"Impressively melds together a vast array of material to show the direction in which Israel is moving and how it is by turns similar to and distinct from other countries. This is a book that can profitably be understood and discussed on many levels."—Paul Scham, University of Maryland

"An important and timely look at Israel's democratic backsliding under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu.... Oren's comparative perspective on populist and antidemocratic trends and practices is especially welcome." —Gregory Mahler, Earlham College

Discussions of democratic backsliding typically include examples from Hungary, Poland, Turkey, and even the United States, but rarely a mention of Israel. Neta Oren asks: Should scholars include Israel in this list? Should Benjamin Netanyahu be considered a populist leader? Are there lessons about populism and democratic decline to be learned from the Israeli case?  

Answering yes to each of these questions, Oren analyzes the related phenomena of populism and the erosion of Israel’s democracy during Netanyahu’s long tenure as prime minister. Her book contributes to an enhanced understanding of not only contemporary Israel, but also democratic backsliding and populism overall.

CONTENTS: 

• Populism and Democratic Decline in Israel.
• Benjamin Netanyahu's Brand of Populism.
• Democratic Backsliding Since 2009.
• Explaining Causes and Constraints.
• What We Can Learn from the Case of Israel.