American Jews and Israel: The Sources of Politicized Ethnic Identity

Abstract

What accounts for individual differences in the level of politicized ethnic identity among members of an ethnonational diaspora? By politicized ethnic identity, we refer to the disposition to assign priority to the interests of the homeland in the politics of the host society. The question presumes that even the most thoroughly mobilized of diasporas contain members who differ among themselves in the degree to which homeland matters predominate in determining political preferences and behavior. Using a 1999 survey of American Jewry, we establish the level of variation in the political salience of Israel to members of the community, then identify and test the factors that promote or retard such commitment.

Homeland Interests, Hostland Politics: Politicized Ethnic Identity among Middle Eastern Heritage Groups in the United States

“…The more individuals participate in culture‐forming ethnic organizations, maintain endogamous social life, and develop powerful symbolic ties to the ethnic community, the greater the probability that ethnic identity will spill over into other aspects of social behavior. Strong ethnic attachment is likely to encourage diaspora members to grant centrality to the homeland in their political calculations (Wald and Williams, 2006; Wald, forthcoming). To model the level of politicized ethnic identity at the individual level thus requires incorporating measures of cultural, social, and symbolic ethnic ties.…”

Perceptions of Anti-Semitism among American Jews, 2000-05, A Survey Analysis

“…Although Jewish religious law provides for conversion to Judaism, intense debate exists among various Jewish sects (e.g., Orthodox, Conservative) about who should be allowed to perform conversion and conversion practices. In contrast, others prefer a less religious‐centered definition, defining a Jew subjectively, that is, whoever thinks of oneself as a Jew is a Jew (Amyot & Sigelman, 1996; Perlmann, 2007a, 2007b; Rebhun, 2004a, 2004b; Rebhun & Levy, 2006; Wald & Martinez, 2002; Wald & Williams. 2006).…”

Identity versus Identity: Israel and Evangelicals and the Two-Front War for Jewish Votes

“…Vote change for Jews in 2004 focused on two key issues of Jewish identity. The more religious Jews have stronger attachments to Israel (Wald and Williams 2006) and they have become less loyal to the Democratic Party. Outside the Orthodox community, Jews worry less about Israel than about the threat to their identity from evangelical Christians.…”