Syllabus

Overview

The course is a thorough overview of Israel’s policies and the world influences that shape them. It is taught by Ambassador Danny Ayalon and was written by five academic experts in their fields of foreign policy. The course will look at the different intellectual currents of modern Zionism, Israel’s policy on core issues, starting with modern Israel reborn out of conflict, and dealing with political, military, economic, and legal aspects. Each session will analyze a different significant area, examining world influences for concrete insight. Topics include Political Zionism, the United Nations, the founding of the European Union and specific world leading nations’ policies towards the Middle East and Israel – and also chart their impact on modern Israel.

While this course can be an electoral course for all students, it is especially relevant for students who are interested in: political science, government, international relations, journalism and current events, public affairs, business, diplomacy, history, and the Middle East.

Objectives

Students Should Understand

The strategic objectives of foreign policymaking

Foreign relations are formalized by Treaties, Foreign Trade Agreements and Int'l Conferences

The interwoven interests: economic and trade, military, security and domestic issues

The complexities of the Middle East in foreign policymaking

Bi-lateral and multi-lateral relations shape foreign policies

The power of natural resources such as oil and water influence policies

The balance of power between countries and regions influences policy making of a country

The vicissitudes of the global political environment in the past and till today

Objectives

Students Should Understand

The strategic objectives of foreign policymaking

Foreign relations are formalized by Treaties, Foreign Trade Agreements and Int'l Conferences

The interwoven interests: economic and trade, military, security and domestic issues

The complexities of the Middle East in foreign policymaking

Bi-lateral and multi-lateral relations shape foreign policies

The power of natural resources such as oil and water influence policies

The balance of power between countries and regions influences policy making of a country

The vicissitudes of the global political environment in the past and till today

Structure

This course contains a series of educational videos that can be watched, paused, or reviewed as many times as you want.

The course is divided into 8 lessons, each one having significant issues to comprehend. The lessons are made of a combination of lecture videos, full written text and audio link, and source materials. The lessons are cumulative and are best understood in the context of the previous lessons. Each lesson is followed by a quiz.

Accreditation: NCCRS National College Credit

http://www.nationalccrs.org/organizations/theological-research-institute#n8868

Course Description:
Israel: A Geopolitical Perspective:
Israel’s Foreign Policies: Challenges and Opportunities from Establishment until Today Professor: Ambassador Danny Ayalon

Assignments
Each lesson is followed by a quiz. These are submitted online in the form of multiple choice/American style.

Session 1 – From a Zionist Movement to a Jewish State

Session 2 – The Establishment of the State of Israel 1948;
How Israel’s Policymaking Was Shaped by its Struggle for Existence; Israel Among the Nations: the International Arena & the UN

Session 3 – US and Israel – A Friendship Forged in Trust: Israel’s Choice to Align with Western Countries

Session 4 – Russia and Israel – Evolving Interests
Soviet Communist Influence; Massive Russian Immigration into Israel; Russian Support to Arab Middle East countries; Russian Presence on Israel’s Borders

Session 5 – The EU and Israel – A Complicated Relationship;
Each country within the EU has its own interests regarding Israel; Bi-Lateral and Multi-Lateral Policies

Session 6 – China and Israel – A Complex Relationship in the Shadow of the USA

Session 7 – India and Israel – Four Phases of Foreign Relations
Hindu-Muslim interests;
Evolution from non-recognition and alignment with opposing UN bloc to recognition without relations and today’s full cooperation;

Session 8 – Middle East and Israel – A History of Conflict;
Wars, boycotts, terror, BDS and lawfare, Iran’s race for nuclear weapons; Peace processes, Oslo Accords, Abraham Agreement

Requirements

The student’s course grade will be determined by the quizzes and the final exam. Students must pass the final exam in order to pass the course. All quizzes and exam are open book.

Final exam (on the entire semester material): The exam may only be taken after all assignments have been submitted. If students have studied the course material as instructed, and have taken the time to review, then students should be well prepared for the final exam.

A letter grade will be assigned based on the following scale:
A 90-100 Excellent
B 80-89 Good
C 70-79 Passing
D 60-69 Poor

Bibliography

Yossi Alpher. Periphery: Israel’s Search for Middle East Allies N.Y. Rowman & Littlefield. 2015.

ISBN 978-1-442203101-6

Yehezkel Dror. Israeli Statecraft: National Security Challenges and Responses. New York.

Routledge. 2011. ISBN 9780415832311

Charles D. Freilich. Zion’s Dilemmas: How Israel Makes National Security Policy. N.Y. Cornell UP.

2012.ISBN 9780801479762

Steven Carol. From Jerusalem to the Lion of Judah and Beyond: Israel’s Foreign Policy in East Africa. Universe.2012.

Michael Oren. Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israeli Divide. N.Y Random House. 2015.

Dennis Ross. Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 2015.

Denni Ross. The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for the Middle East Peace. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 2005.

Charles Krauthammer. Things that Matter (Crown Forum, 2013).

Bernard Lewis, “The Anti-Zionist Resolution”, Foreign Affairs 55/1, October 1976 issue, pp. 54-64.