Ira Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science and public administration at Hebrew University.
His books, which are available on Amazon, include:
*Alternative federal solutions to the problem of the administered territories
*Ambiguity, Coping, and Governance: Israeli Experiences in Politics, Religion, and Policymaking
*Ancient and Modern Israel: An Exploration of Political Parallels
*Coping with Terror: An Israeli Perspective
* Governing Israel: Chosen People, Promised Land and Prophetic Tradition
*Governing Jerusalem: Again on the World’s Agenda
* Israel and its Bible: A Political Analysis
* Maligned States: policy accomplishments, problems and opportunities
* Policy Analysis in Political Science
* Policy and Politics in American Governments
* Policy Making in Israel: Routines for Simple Problems and Coping with the Complex
* Politics and Planning in the Holy City
* Politics and Policymaking in Search of Simplicity
* Public Administration: Agencies, Policies, and Politics
* Public Administration Policy Making in Government Agencies
* Public Administration (2nd Edition): Policy Making in Government Agencies
* Regionalism in American Politics
* Rituals of Conflict: Religion, Politics, and Public Policy in Israel
* Spending in the American States
* The Policy Predicament: Making and Implementing Public Policy
* The Political Economy of Israel
* The Politics of Religion and the Religion of Politics
*The Politics of Taxing and Spending
* The Routines of Politics
* The United States: A Study of a Developing Country
* The United States Revisited: A Study of a Still Developing Country
* Urban Politics and Public Policy [Robert Lineberry]
* What Makes Israel Tick: How Domestic Policy-Makers Cope with Restraints
* Wither the State: Politics and Public Enterprise in Three Countries
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It seems appropriate to call these two contenders for the world’s most powerful office by their first names, Donald and Hillary. Even this far away from their campaigns, where the news is usually about something else, we’ve been listening for more than a year to a great deal of commentary, along […]
An Ex-pat’s view of Donald and Hillary Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There hasn’t been Jewish unity since our ancestors began writing some 3,000 years ago. We can guess that Jewish literacy has something to do with Jewish creativity, individual capacity to express oneself freely, tolerance or enthusiasm for dispute, as well as economic success. Roots of self doubt and being disputatious
Arguments among Jews? What else is new? Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Among the flaps centered on this noisy little place is Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with government ministers on the Golan Heights, and his declaration that the area would be Israeli for time eternal. A number of senior officials from ostensibly friendly governments expressed their reservations, and the UN Security Council
What was behind the Golan declaration Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Campaigning does not bring out the best. There is much said and written by candidates, their supporters, opponents, and commentators. Who knows what is important, crucial, and trivial, when all fabricate, dissemble, obfuscate, temporize, and lie, and much of what the victors actually do will depend on details that develop
Politicians the world over Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s looking more and more like Hillary vs Donald. Neither of them has the nomination sewed up. Guesses are the Donald won’t have the required majority when he gets to the convention. The announcement by Cruz and Kasich that they would work together to frustrate Trump began to unravel after
Trump’s victories speak ill of American electorate Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USAJERUSALEM — Ha’aretz’s cartoonist has summarized a substantial slice of what concerns us this week. He depicts one variety of religious Jew wanting to perform a sacrifice on the Temple Mount, and another Jew, unkempt and secular, walking his dog in the opposite direction. The Jew leading a young goat in the direction of the Temple
Religious tensions mark Passover festival in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has large followings of those who love him, and those who hate him. The love side of Bibi’s audience appears in this recent note from an Internet friend, which resembles what I have seen from others. Regarding Bibi, I think he walks on water . .
The staying power of Bibi Netanyahu Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin are at opposite poles. One comes from a long tradition of idealism, speaking about great values, and usually ending up a long way from what was promised. The other represents the essence of realpolitik, or if I can take it, it’s mine. Woodrow Wilson was
Obama and Putin are opposite types of leaders Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Three American Presidents must share at least part of the responsibility for the chaos currently destroying large parts of the Middle East, and threatening Israel, Europe, and the United States. Ronald Reagan sought an advantage in the Cold War by recruiting Muslim fighters, providing them money and munitions to use
Reagan, Bush, Obama all contributed to Mideast chaos Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We can wonder if anger or pity should be our response to an item that has gone viral. It shows a young Jewish woman who reached a top place in Bernie Sanders’ campaign–his Jewish outreach director–expressing a hatred that goes over the boundaries of pathological. In a Facebook screed, Simone
Jewish extremists on the left and right Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Politics may not be the most uncertain activity. Playing in traffic is more problematic, but politics is close. Its uncertainties begin with the number of participants and the variety of their aspirations, skills, and resources, and extends to “externals” like natural and human catastrophes. Think about trying to maintain a
Putting narrow interests ahead of Israel’s Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –The campaign against Moshe Yaalon has produced images recalling the worst of Israeli and Jewish history. A composite picturing him as a target for assassination, with the slogan, “politically liquidated” may be thought by moderate rightists to be only a call to vote against him in the next Likud Primary. However,
Campaign against Yaalon like fatal one against Rabin Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Four issues in current headlines may be causing some Israelis to avoid the news, and embarrassment for our overseas friends, while they are sending other Israelis to various sides of virtual barricades. One is that young soldier who killed a Palestinian in Hebron. Another is the faltering deal to expand
Four cringe- worthy news stories for proud Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One of Jerusalem’s benefits is the opportunity for Jews from different backgrounds, and Arabs, to converse and come to understand what one another brings to the encounter. Some would say that Jerusalem’s ethnic and religious mixture is dangerous, and it can be. It was part of the downside when this
Jerusalem’s ethnic mix can be dangerous or beneficial Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East