A Study Of Jewish Politics In Modern U.S.A

Based on the theories of political science, international politics, religious culture and western philosophy, this dissertation attempts to make a systematic study of Jewish politics in modern America. This dissertation crosses many disciplines and many theories; therefore, it is a compound research dissertation. Its research methodologies are as follows: Based on historicalism, this dissertation is to analyze Judaism and Jewish spirit; In the light of the basic principles of religious culture, this dissertation is to reveal the division of different sects of Judaism, the development of Semitism which had integrated different sects of Judaism and also driven political awakening of American Jewish people. By applying the rationale of political science, this dissertation examines the evolution of Jewish people's political thoughts so as to demonstrate the complexity of it; Taking realism in international politics theories as the main thread, the dissertation chronically investigates the interaction between American Jewish forces, America-Israeli relations and American policy toward Middle East. In addition, constructionism helps to illustrate the identity between America and Israel and the theory of Game helps to shed light on the triangular connection of America, Israel and Arabian countries.As this dissertation holds, Jewish people are identified with Judaism and Jewish spirit by nature. Judaism and Jewish spirit serve as the incubator of Jewish politics, deciding the tendency and prospects of Jewish politics. This is the most important conclusion of this dissertation. Additionally, in spite of the great Jewish political power, it can't change or subvert the domination of American WASP's political power. As a matter of fact, American Jews can only influence and participate American politics. In order to maximize its own ethnic interests and the interests of Israel, Jewish people, by drawing on its own superpowerful economic strength, powerful media, public opinions instruments and think tanks, have established its own political organizations and interest groups; They also participate politics by taking official career and putting forth some political thoughts, then build up their own political force. Besides, they attach much importance to the cultivation of pro-Israeli power, which actively exert influence on American politics. Jewish lobby also has great impacts on American-Israeli relations and American Middle East policies.This dissertation, made up of 180000 characters, comprises the introduction, the body, the postscript as well as the appendix. The body includes 6 chapters, each of which focuses on a specific topic.The first chapter deals with the formation and evolution of American Jewish people. The Jewish people established Judaism, the first monotheist religion in the world, which had bred the unique Jewish spirit and the intrinsic features of Jewry .Over 3000 years, in particular, the Diaspora of over 2000 years, the Jewish people had survived the anti-Semitism and remained a special people as a whole. Ever since modern times, the Jewish people immigrated to America and four waves of their immigration had enabled Jewish people to be assimilated to the locals on that land. The formation and evolution of American Jewish people is a process of assimilation and coexistence with other peoples in America. So far, American Jews have almost merged with other peoples in U.S.A. This chapter serves as a base on which the whole dissertation is developed.The second chapter explores the modernization of Judaism and the political awakening of American Jewish people. In the context of modernization, Judaism disintegrated into many sects, however, those different sects integrated again under the influence of Semitism. As a result, American Jewish people realized their political awakening by double driving forces of nationalism and modernization .This chapter is a transitional one, also a logical starting-point of the analysis of Jewish politics.The third chapter examines the political thoughts of American Jewish people, directly touching on the core of Jewish politics. American Jewish people had ever accepted socialism, however, the mainstream political thoughts of Jewish people is still liberalism .In 1960s, two different schools of political thoughts emerged among the Jewish people in America, namely, the leftist radicalism and neo-conservatism. The latter had smoldered among the Jewish"New York intellectuals".The fourth chapter is to make a study of the political performance of Jewish people in modern times. The political performance of Jewish people constitutes the main components of Jewish politics, also being the mechanism of formation and operation of Jewish politics. The political performance of Jewish people in modern America includes the Jews'entry to politics by taking official careers, establishing lobbying organizations and cultivating the pro-Israeli forces in America.The fifth chapter is the most important part of this dissertation, which deals with the triangular connection of Jewish forces American-Israeli relations and America's policy toward Middle East. As the history demonstrates, American Jewish people resolutely defended the interests of Israel even regardless of sacrificing American interests. America has been a loyal ally of Israel and Israel has been a strategic asset of America. In the interaction between America and Israel, Israel had ever harmed American interests; accordingly, America also made some policies and decisions unfavorable to Israel.The sixth chapter is to make a proper evaluation on the current situation and the prospects of Jewish politics. The rise of Jewish neo-conservatism and its prevalence in George·W·Bush's administration marks the main expression of Jewish politics at current stage. The prospects of Jewish politics are still on certainty. In order to sustain Jewish politics, American Jews have to make some tactical transformation. This dissertation is quite innovative and the innovation lies in the subject, argumentations and methodologies.The subject is brand-new. It is concerning a panoramic view of American Jewish politics, which has not been studied by any other scholar in China.The argumentations are also very original .For example, the sprout of American Jewish politics is found in the context of modernization of Judaism ; American Jewish people realized their political awakening by joint driving forces of nationalism, Semitism and modernization ; American Jews harmed American interests in their political activities; The abuse of anti-Semitism of Jews has brought themselves political dilemmas .The term of Jewish Neo-conservatism is also put forward in this dissertation. All these argumentations are theoretical breakthroughs.The research methodologies are also very creative. Based on the theories of political science, international politics, religious culture and western philosophy, this dissertation synthetically adopts research methodologies like realism, constructionism, the theory of Game to interpret different aspects of Jewish politics.