Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Israel in Turmoil: A Sociological Perspective
Speaker
Professor Asa Maron
Coordinator
Steve Clarey
Israeli society is in turmoil since January 2023, when
a new right-wing government advanced a disputed
reform in Israel’s democratic regime, triggering a
massive wave of protest and demonstrations. Since
October 7, 2023, Israel is at war on multiple fronts,
while heated domestic conflicts reach new heights.
For example, bringing Israeli hostages back home,
once a shared principle of solidarity, has turned
into yet another schism between conflicting social
identities. This lecture sheds light on these events
by putting them in historical perspective, discussing
the structure of Israel’s society, its politics and
economics.
a new right-wing government advanced a disputed
reform in Israel’s democratic regime, triggering a
massive wave of protest and demonstrations. Since
October 7, 2023, Israel is at war on multiple fronts,
while heated domestic conflicts reach new heights.
For example, bringing Israeli hostages back home,
once a shared principle of solidarity, has turned
into yet another schism between conflicting social
identities. This lecture sheds light on these events
by putting them in historical perspective, discussing
the structure of Israel’s society, its politics and
economics.
Speaker Bio
Presenter: Asa Maron is an Assistant Professor in
the Department of Sociology, University of Haifa,
Israel. He is currently a visiting professor in the
Department of Sociology, UC San Diego, under
the auspices of the Murray Gallinson San Diego
– Israel Initiative. As a political and economic
sociologist, Asa’s studies explore the welfare
state, its politics and transformations in the age of
financial capitalism. Asa received his B.A. (Summa
cum laude) from the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, his M.A. (Highest Distinction) from the
Central European University, and his Ph.D. from
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He has held
postdoctoral positions at Stanford University and
the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
the Department of Sociology, University of Haifa,
Israel. He is currently a visiting professor in the
Department of Sociology, UC San Diego, under
the auspices of the Murray Gallinson San Diego
– Israel Initiative. As a political and economic
sociologist, Asa’s studies explore the welfare
state, its politics and transformations in the age of
financial capitalism. Asa received his B.A. (Summa
cum laude) from the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, his M.A. (Highest Distinction) from the
Central European University, and his Ph.D. from
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He has held
postdoctoral positions at Stanford University and
the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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