Democracy and Conflict Resolution - (Syracuse Studies on Peace and Conflict Resolution) by Hendrik Spruyt & Miriam Fendius Elman & Oded Haklai

About the Book

Using the contested theory of democratic peace as a foundational framework, the contributors explore the effects of a variety of internal influences on Israeli government practices related to Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking: electoral systems; political parties; identity; leadership; and social movements.

Book Synopsis

Studies of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict typically focus on how international conditions drive the likelihood of conflict resolution. By contrast, Democracy and Conflict Resolution considers the understudied impact of domestic factors. Using the contested theory of "democratic peace" as a foundational framework, the contributors explore the effects of various internal influences on Israeli government practices related to peace-making: electoral systems, political parties, identity, leadership, and social movements. Most strikingly, Democracy and Conflict Resolution explores the possibility that features of democracy inhibit resolution of conflict, a possibility that resonates far outside the contested region. In reflecting on how domestic political configurations matter in a practical sense, this book offers policy-relevant and timely suggestions for advancing Israel's capacity to pursue effective peacemaking policies.

Review Quotes

A valuable and important contribution to a topic usually studied with strong political zeal rather than cool academic analysis.-- "Maoz Rosenthal, Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel"

The analyses by the contributors are insightful and knowledgeable, embodying a fascinating mélange of history, politics, religion and ideology.-- "Gilead Sher, former head of bureau and policy coordinator for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak"

The book's main achievement, indeed its main appeal, therefore, consists in showing the conditions under which democracies fail to solve conflict peacefully, and more generally, in promoting a reinvigorated debate on democratic peace theory.-- "Emanuel Adler, Andrea and Charles Bronfman Chair of Israeli Studies and professor of political science, University of Toronto"

About the Author

Miriam Fendius Elman is associate professor of political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.

Oded Haklai is associate professor of political studies at Queen's University, Kingston.

Hendrik Spruyt is Norman Dwight Harris Professor of International Relations and former director of the Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies at Northwestern University.