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 — There should be a special place in hell for officials who reach high office, then act in a manner that brings ridicule on their institutions. There are two candidates for that special place. One is the Director of the FBI, who has mucked up the presidential campaign at close to […]
When top level officials demean their offices Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We don’t live in a world of clear contrasts, whether we call them blacks and whites, or good and evil. Israel’s relations with its neighbors have evolved over the course of 70 years to something that is far more subtle and nuanced than what is expressed by intense nationalists or
The graying of Jewish and Arab relations in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The incidence of Americans who can’t stand one or both presidential candidates allows an outsider to ask how such a duo got to the finals. It was one of the founders who wrote that men were not angels, and required controls over their passions. Neither Donald nor Hillary is an angel. Indeed,
View from abroad: The tightening U.S. presidential race Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A clip is circulating among alumni of the Fall River Jewish community that has Cantor Marcus Gerlich along with the Temple Beth El choir. singing Kol Nidre, It brings back memories from the best of my Jewish youth. Cantor Gerlich was a fine teacher and role model, who saw me and many others through
Kol Nidre: Its style and substance Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Among the more attractive points made by Hillary Cllnton in the second debate was her celebration of the diversity apparent in the American population. Letting people think, look, and behave as they wish has numerous advantages, but there are also costs. I learned my lesson as a kid in Fall River,
Diversity a strength and a problem is U.S., Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The verbal brickbats being hurled by Russians, Americans, and various other interested parties at one another over the morass in Syria testify to the cynicism, hypocrisy, and impotence of major actors in international politics. It’s hard to praise any of the parties, none of whom are doing much to stop
Assigning blame in Syria Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israeli politicians and Jewish activists here and there are calling for unity, typically behind whatever point of view they are supporting. In extremis, we hear that it is essential for the survival of Israel or the Jewish people. Yet it never takes long before we hear other Israelis or Jews
Jewish fondness for arguing may be a strength Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Even before the formal signing of what was described as a record-making agreement for US financial aid, shrill critics here and there were claiming that Bibi had messed the opportunity to get more and better terms. Prominent in the agreement, which came after months or years (depending on whenever conversations
U.S. – Israel arms deal criticized in both countries Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A public coughing spell, a filmed faint or near so, and a clumsy claim of overheating on a day that was not hot has put one old U.S. presidential candidate’s health on center stage, along with another old presidential candidate’s lack of a public tax return, and a flabby claim
Hillary’s health, Donald’s taxes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The status quo usually works. It derives from years of experience, and the learned accommodation of different interests to one another. Not all are happy. Those feeling deprived, and those feeling that features of the status quo are not appropriate demand change, but usually it’s not easy to change things
Mideast political theater is a fig leaf for the status quo Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Three Ha’aretz cartoons summarize a recent commotion in Israeli politics. One depicts a horrendous traffic jam associated with a major construction project, with Bibi smiling and claiming to have “screwed Katz.’ Another shows two wounded politicians, Bibi and Transportation Minister Israel Katz, reflecting several days of media commentary about a
Netanyahu and Katz rail at each other Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The police chief got himself into trouble with a comment about police officers being more likely to stop Ethiopians than other Israelis. He said it was natural, given the suspicions of the police on the street, and the well known information that recent immigrants, the world over, are more likely
Ethiopian immigrants face hurdles in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Palestinians are darlings of the world, receiving disproportionate amounts of financial aid and supportive resolutions in the UN General Assembly and other international forums. Yet progress is dismal toward the avowed goal of a Palestinian State. Israeli intransigence is the favorite explanation, but Palestinian disinterest does a better job. Notions of a
Only thing that links P.A., Gaza is hatred of Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We’re taught to honor principles, and there is merit to that principle. But they are also the traps in which disappear decency and good sense. Those who think and express themselves in absolutes and reject dispute from those who doubt the value of the principles being promoted risk a lonesome life
‘Four-letter’ word against Israel: Occupation Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East