Simon Rawidowicz teaching a Hebrew class in Bialystok, c. 1917. Simon Rawidowicz Archive, Newton, MA.

Zionism endures as a flashpoint in debates about the history, meaning, and morality of nationalism. Jewish nationalism’s ambiguous position in the study of international relations makes it an ideal case study for understanding the historical and contemporary forces fueling nationalism and debates about the limits of national sovereignty. By focusing on scholarly debates from a variety of disciplines about the past, present, and future of Zionism, students will have the opportunity to consider the dilemmas of balancing national self-determination with individual rights in an age of globalization.