Unveiling Dynamics in Israel: History, Politics, Law & Technology
2008 Exploration Seminar in Israel

**THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**

Program Director: Gad Barzilai (Int'l Studies/LSJ) & Karine Barzilai-Nahon (iSchool)
Dates of Instruction: August 5 - 22, 2008

Course description: Sixty years after its establishment Israel is looked upon as a global flashpoint, a democracy under contention, and a venue for international immigration. The country seems to always be moving between religious, ethnic, national, global and local identities, liberal and conservative forces and present conflicts.

This exciting exploration seminar in Israel [5 credits] offers students first-hand learning experiences and field tours in order to explore the most fundamental facets of Israeli society, both among Jews and Arab-Palestinians. This exploration seminar (17 days) invites students to travel and meet with prominent social and political activists, leading intellectuals, legal activists, Parliament members, judges, ministers, NGOs, hi-tech entrepreneurs, and visit various places with historical and contemporary international significance. Among various places, students will visit cities playing a role in the history of humanity like Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Tiberia, and cities that are more contemporary like Tel Aviv and Haifa.  The seminar will also explore historical and archeological sites like the Dead Sea, Masada and the Jordan River. It will explore the fertilization of the desert, the Negev Desert, as well as experiencing communal life in the Kibbutz and Arab villages. Field trips will be complemented with intellectual meetings in universities, public policy centers, technological sites, industrial sites, political and legal institutions, cultural centers and museums.

These direct experiences in historical, political, cultural, legal, economic, and technological sites, along with debates with leading scholars and experts, allow students to combine fun with learning in order to systematically explore the unveiled domestic and foreign facets of Israel. Students are expected to analyze their experiences and through meetings with experts they will draft policy papers on fascinating issues.

Participants will earn 5 credits in one of the following: SIS 399, SISJE 399, LSJ 495, IMT559, LIS559, or CHID 477 Middle East Study Abroad (I&S). Participants should check with their advisers to determine how these credits can apply towards departmental requirements.

For more information:
Professor Gad Barzilai 
Jackson School of International Studies, Law, Societies and JusticeProgram
gbarzil@u.washington.edu 
http://faculty.washington.edu/gbarzil

Professor Karine Barzilai-Nahon
Information School
Director of the Center for Information & Society
karineb@u.washington.edu
http://www.ischool.washington.edu/karineb

Student costs:  
$3,200 Program Fee
$200 IPE Fee
Additional costs include: round trip airfare to Israel, health insurance, some meals, and personal expenses.


Back to Exploration Seminar List of Programs