Israeli Identities and the Politics of Threat: A Constructivist Interpretation

The paper attempts to offer an alternative analysis to the predominantly positivist-rationalist approaches exhibited by most studies of Israel's policies towards the Palestinians. Rather than focusing on realist estimations of power and the national interest as dictating the foreign and defence policies of Israel since its establishment, this paper draws attention to the causes of these manifestations. Using a constructivist methodology, it examines the way in which historical, cultural and religious processes have created a unique Israeli collective identity that can be defined by a dual construct of exceptionalism and siege mentality. Recognizing the centrality of these constructs in political, public and educational discourses is thus imperative not only for a better understanding of Israel's approach to security, but also for creating conducive steps towards reconciliation between Israel and her neighbours.