Civil Society in Transition: Interest Politics in Israel

Abstract

Civil society in Israel evolved in three phases as a response to state strategies. In the first phase, the state, aided by a fundamental vision and disciplined political parties, adopted a strategy of active inclusion, based on comprehensive mobilization of social actors. In the second phase, the state shifted to active exclusion, delegitimizing challenging groups such as the feminists and social protest movements. The Law of Associations, mandating state surveillance of groups' organization and activities, consolidated active exclusion. In the third phase, the state shifted to passive exclusion, decreasing its interference with civil society. Consequently, six developments on the social scene are discernible: a rise in the number of civic organizations, a change in the nature of civil society, a change in associations' strategies, a change in their access to decision makers, a change in their impact, and their legitimation.