The Question of Zion

by Jacqueline Rose

Zionism was inspired as a movement--one driven by the search for a homeland for the stateless and persecuted Jewish people. Yet it trampled the rights of the Arabs in Palestine. Today it has become so controversial that it defies understanding and trumps reasoned public debate. So argues prominent British writer Jacqueline Rose, who uses her political and psychoanalytic skills in this book to take an unprecedented look at Zionism--one of the most powerful ideologies of modern times. Rose enters the inner world of the movement and asks a new set of questions. How did Zionism take shape as an identity? And why does it seem so immutable? Analyzing the messianic fervor of Zionism, she argues that it colors Israel's most profound self-image to this day. Rose also explores the message of dissidents, who, while believing themselves the true Zionists, warned at the outset against the dangers of statehood for the Jewish people. She suggests that these dissidents were prescient in their recognition of the legitimate claims of the Palestinian Arabs. In fact, she writes, their thinking holds the knowledge the Jewish state needs today in order to transform itself. In perhaps the most provocative part of her analysis, Rose proposes that the link between the Holocaust and the founding of the Jewish state, so often used to justify Israel's policies, needs to be rethought in terms of the shame felt by the first leaders of the nation toward their own European history. For anyone concerned with the conflict in Israel-Palestine, this timely book offers a unique understanding of Zionism as an unavoidable psychic and historical force.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle East, Philosophy

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2005

About the author

Jacqueline Rose, FBA (born 1949, London) is a British academic who is currently Professor of Humanities at the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities.

Rose was born into a non-practicing Jewish family. Her elder sister was the philosopher Gillian Rose. Jacqueline Rose is known for her work on the relationship between psychoanalysis, feminism and literature. She is a graduate of St Hilda's College, Oxford and gained her higher degree (maîtrise) from the Sorbonne, Paris and her doctorate from the University of London.

Her book Albertine, a novel from 2001, is a feminist variation on Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu.

She is best known for her critical study on the life and work of American poet Sylvia Plath, The Haunting of Sylvia Plath, published in 1991. In the book, Rose offers a postmodernist feminist interpretation of Plath's work, and criticises Plath's husband Ted Hughes and other editors of Plath's writing. Rose describes the hostility she experienced from Hughes and his sister (who acts as literary executor to Plath's estate) including threats received from Hughes about some of Rose's analysis of Plath's poem "The Rabbit Catcher". The Haunting of Sylvia Plath was critically acclaimed, and itself subject to a famous critique by Janet Malcolm in her book The Silent Woman: Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes.

Rose is a regular broadcaster on and contributor to the London Review of Books.

Rose's States of Fantasy was the inspiration for composer Mohammed Fairouz's Double Concerto of the same title.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jonathan Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1st 2 chapters which focus on messianism and psychoanalysis are far too historical, it's the 3rd chapter really worth reading for analysis of the politics of Zionism.

Great quote summary:
"Arab aggression is not provoked by Jewish settlement of the land; it is not a response to dispossession. It is a challenge to the Jewish people not to capitulate to their own past."

Otherwise you're fine sticking with books by Friedman and Zakaria

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand why and how the Zionist project went wrong.
'The Question of Zion' is not anti-Zionist, as someone claims, it is an act of courage by a scholar who isn't shy to deconstruct the myths that underpin political discourse in Israel. Jewish readers with an open-mind will appreciate Jacqueline Rose's effort. All readers will gain a better understanding of the history and ideological premises of Zionism.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting analysis of the Zionist project, delving much further back than the invention of the modern state of Israel. Jacqueline uses her political and psychoanalytic skills well here and provides a very unique perspective.

I found the book insightful, and Jacqueline's perspective expanded my knowledge on the impact of Zionism on the world, especially on both Jewish people and Palestinians.

[Emma Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I didn’t agree with every point (and in a book of theory, one never should) I thought the psychoanalysis of Zionism, especially that of a Jewish woman, was both fascinating and eye opening. She asked many of the questions I ask myself and others, and dealt thoughtfully with detractors on all sides. Highly recommend for anyone interested in Zionism or Israel/Palestine.

[Vicky Karali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting material. A psychanalysis of Zionism, based mostly on Arendt, Sholem and selection of first Zionists (Herzl, Ahd ha Am & Ben Gurion). I didnt like the writing style though, too tiring.
Overall it gave me food for thought

[Steve Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone interested in Israel-Palestine/ Palestine-Israel should read this. It's not an easy read, but worthwhile spending time with it.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

found this to be a very interesting book even if I am not the biggest fan of psychoanalysis. definitely a different perspective on the foundations of zionism, but one that I am glad I engaged with.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad I read this book. It’s an odd book. It’s small, but it’s taking on a big challenge. The author is (in a way) giving a psycho analytic reading of the Zionism. She makes her argument - but because she has to shorten it for the length of the book - it’s hard to judge it on its own merits. She certainly has given me a lot to chew on - that I hadn’t thought of before. These seemingly intractable problems of the Middle East aren’t offered solutions here (which many books I’ve read on the subject do offer - but I think this is a good contribution, by inviting the reader to step back and see what is really going on (from her perspective at least) - which may then suggest some possible answers.

[Ivan Pope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some background on the Israel/Palestine situation.