Power and Ritual in the Israel Labor Party: A Study in Political Anthropology

An anthropological study of a major national political party - one which dominated Israeli politics for nearly five decades and was returned to office in summer 1992. The analysis focuses on the relationship between culture and politics to explain the crucial role the Labour Party has played. Figures and Tables, Foreword by Gregory S. Mahler, Preface to the Revised and Expanded Edition, Acknowledgments, Introduction: An Unconventional Approach Explained and Justified, 2 Fission and Fusion: The Politics of Factionalism, 3 The Power of Nominations, 4 The Suppression of Issues, 5 Ritual of Self-Identification, Rebellion, and Assertion, 6 Continuity and Change in Representation in Party Institutions, 7 Party Center and Local Branch Relationships, 8 The End of an Epoch and a New Regime, 9 Adjustment to Being in Opposition, 10 Democratization of Leadership Selection, II The Impact of the Intifada, 12 Facing the Future, 13 Concluding Perspectives, Bibliography, Index