Description: Challenges the social-science image of Israel as a historical peculiarity by situating Israel's history in comparative context; by building bridges between Israel and other Middle Eastern states; and by using the Israeli case to reconsider existing social science theories and correct common misperceptions about the comparative method.
Brief description: Michael N. Barnett is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of Confronting the Costs of War: Military Power, State, and Society in Egypt and Israel.
Review Quotes:
"This excellent analysis draws on social science theory that properly puts Israel in a larger comparative context. On a very important topic, this book fills a major gap in the literature." -- Robert O. Freedman, Baltimore Hebrew University
"The issues in this stimulating volume should inspire a whole range of comparative studies." -- Studies in Contemporary Jewry