CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Zhuchenko, Timofei |
|---|---|
| Title | Between Identity and Ideology: American Jewish Interest Groups, Israel, and the Escalation of War in Gaza |
| Summary | This study examines how American Jewish interest groups' political orientations shape their claims about ethnic identity, particularly in response to the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the Gaza invasion, and U.S. student protests. It finds that: Right-leaning groups (e.g., AIPAC, ZOA) show strong, unquestioning support for Israel, seeing it as a key part of their Jewish identity. Left-leaning groups (e.g., JVP, J-Street) take a critical stance, emphasizing human rights and impartiality. The research uses social media discourse to analyze how terms like "Jewish" and "Jewishness" are used politically. It concludes that political beliefs influence how diaspora members see themselves and their connection to Israel. Right-leaning groups link Jewish identity with support for Israel, while left-leaning groups focus on moral responsibilities to the oppressed, leading to polarization within Jewish communities and the U.S. The study shows how political actors manipulate identity claims to meet specific goals and suggests further research on diaspora identity perceptions. |
| Supervisor | Pogonyi, Szabolcs |
| Department | Nationalism Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/zhuchenko_timofei.pdf |
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