Obligation in Exile

"At once a thought-provoking account of transnational political obligation and a sure-footed consideration of the fraught terrain on which Jewish-Israeli relations unfold. Not all will find Baron's notion of obligation persuasive; yet the book opens fresh ground for academics seeking to balance normatively inflected political analysis against critical self-reflection, and - it is to be hoped - among Jews and Israelis seeking to reflect upon, and make sense of, their own affiliations and ambivalences." Daniel J. Levine, Department of Political Science, The University of Alabama "In an era of narrowing scientification this book is a marvel. Analysing the relations of Jewish Diasporas with Israel, Dr Baron courageously adopts a multidisciplinary perspective. He skilfully combines political theory, sociology and international relations theory to illuminate contemporary empirical and theoretical concerns like identity, power, transnationalism, obligation and critique." Piki Ish-Shalom, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem An exploration of the complex relationship between Israel and the Diaspora Jewish identity Diaspora Jewish identity is often connected to Israel, but this connection has contributed to increasing polarization within Diaspora Jewish communities. While the majority of major Diaspora Jewish organizations continue to accept the view that to be Jewish is to support Israel, this view is becoming increasingly contested among younger Diaspora Jews. Nevertheless, Israel continues to strongly figure in the construction of contemporary Diaspora Jewish identity, and this Israelization of Jewish identity and the relationship that it involves is often described as one of loyalty. This book uses a different terminology. Using a combination of political theory and sociological interviews spanning four countries, Ilan Baron explores the Diaspora/Israel relationship and suggests that instead of looking at Diaspora Jews' relationship with Israel as a matter of loyalty, it is one of obligation. The book develops an outline for a theory of transnational political obligation and in the process an alternative way of understanding and exploring the Diaspora/Israel relationship to one mired in partisan Debates about whether or not being a good Jew means supporting Israel. Baron concludes by arguing how critique of Israel is not just about Israeli policy, but about what it means to be a Diaspora Jew. Ilan Zvi Baron is a lecturer in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University.