The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at Reichman University is a leading school of public policy, diplomacy, foreign policy and strategy. With a faculty comprised of world-renowned academics alongside experienced professionals and practitioners, the program’s curriculum focuses on both theory and practice, to prepare the next generation of leaders for the challenges of an ever-increasing complex world.
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Prof. Assaf Moghadam
About The Government Program
The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy offers students a broad-based perspective on domestic and global politics, and an in-depth understanding of the diverse issues governments and individuals confront in an ever-changing international system.
Students learn about and explore the impact of a wealth of diverse factors on political behavior, including psychological effects and motivations, business interests, economic policies, social media, culture, big data, and technology. Additionally, a special focus is put on the inner workings of the Middle East - regionally and within the context of globalization. The study of Israel is comprehensive in scope, including exposure to all facets of the Israeli polity - from issues of democracy and religion to foreign policy to questions of national security.
The studies are built on the concept of combining theory with practice, and expose students to real-life situations through case studies, simulations, internships, and meetings with key public figures.
During the final year of the program students specialize in one area of their choice, earning a Cluster Certificate. In addition, students may choose a minor area of study. The clusters are: Global Affairs and Conflict Resolution; Middle East; Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security; Business Administration; and Public Diplomacy.
The Lauder School attracts outstanding students from around the world, and provides a pluralistic environment in which students can exchange ideas and views, while gaining unique networking opportunities. Many of our students have continued their graduate studies at leading American and European universities. Alumni have also gone on to fascinating careers in government, the private sector, NGOs, and international institutions.
Specializations
Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security
Head of Program: Prof. Boaz GanorThe Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security cluster introduces students to the challenges and dilemmas entailed in countering terrorism.
Further InformationGlobal Affairs & Conflict Resolution
Head of Program: Dr. Shavit MatiasThe Global Affairs and Conflict Resolution Cluster offers an interdisciplinary context for understanding critical issues in foreign affairs, diplomacy, international politics, transnational security, international law, and conflict resolution.
Further InformationBusiness Administration
Head of Program: Dr. Uri UllmannThis cluster provides students with a relevant and in-depth interdisciplinary understanding of business administration in the modern age – relating to the interface between the world of business and economics and global politics as well as different state institutions and international actors.
Further InformationMiddle East
Head of Program: Dr. Yossi MannIntroduces students to the many faces of the region, the challenges it faces, and the changes it is experiencing: Islam as a religion and as a political ideology; Arab nationalism; energy and geopolitics in the Middle East; the Arab Spring and the new generation of leaders and the dilemmas they face; a society torn between tradition and modernity, religion and nationalism.
Further InformationPublic Diplomacy
Head of Program: Moran YarchiThe Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy is offering a new cluster in Public Diplomacy to communications students.
Further Information
Selected Courses from the Program:
This course introduces the students to several of the central topics in Comparative Politics. We will begin with core concepts, theories and ideas central to our understanding of politics. We will then cover topics such as the definition and measurement of democracy, the differences between democracies and other types of regimes, the process of state formation, mobilization and collective action, the role of ethnicity and identity in creating conflict and civil wars, civil-military relations, political parties and party systems and economic development of state institutions. In each of these topics we will discuss central theories and compare and contrast their utility in various parts of the world.
A student of government, diplomacy, and strategy attempting to understand current global, regional, and national challenges must acquire historical understanding and possess a solid knowledge in modern history and the evolution of Zionism. Understanding history – the ability to analyze, assess, and define key drivers, processes, and trends – influences our capacity to comprehend the present day and to think about shaping the future. Focusing on the diplomatic history of the 19th and 20th Centuries – from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to the end of the Cold War – this course seeks not only to offer knowledge and information on the evolution of modern history and Zionism. Rather, the course will also encourage and provide tools to reflect upon, and understand, the trends and processes that have molded the world, as we know it today. Notably, the 19th and 20th Centuries were the era of Western predominance. The rise of the West was the key driver of this period, which in its last quarter enabled the rise of the rest of the world to a point at which many proclaimed the inevitable decline of the West. Although unique in many ways, the very idea of Zionism – the aspiration for Jewish national self-determination and statehood in its own ancestral land – and its realization are integral and inseparable of the historical evolution of the Western Civilization and the world order, as we know it today.
This course will introduce students to some of the major ways of understanding contemporary global politics, and some of the most important issues which are at stake. We will discuss the main theories such as realism, liberalism, constructivism as well as the more critical theories of Marxism and feminism. We will try to understand the similar and the unique in each of them and how they help us better understand the relationship between states and other international actors. From globalization, inequality and financial crises, international trade, trafficking, to terrorism, nuclear weapons and war, students will develop a more sophisticated understanding of the roots of political struggle, conflict and cooperation on a global scale.
This course will provide an introduction to the modern history of the Middle East, from the end of the 18th Century until the inter-war period. Its geographic scope will be the areas covered under the Ottoman Empire, mainly Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, and Turkey. The course will focus mainly on political developments and processes within this region, but will also discuss various historical and historiographical debates within the field of Middle Eastern Studies, that are relevant to this course. It will discuss the impact of the encounter between the Middle East and the foreign European powers, as well as the processes of reforms, nationalism and state-building in the Middle East.
This course will start with a scrutiny of the topic of economic globalisation, by first defining the phenomenon, delimiting the major sub-periods in the Post-War era, while familiarising the student with the major transformations that have taken place within the domains of commerce, finance, production and migration. Some time will be spent discussing changes in patterns of commodification and accumulation, as well as the palpable evolution that has taken place in the major global economic institutions. We will then examine the effects globalisation has had on the model of the Westphalian nation-state and international relations, while studying various different approaches that aim to shed light both on the essence of such entities at present, and the way they are likely to develop in the future. The question of state-sovereignty, and the degree to which it can still be realised fully in practice, deserves particular attention within this context. The course will continue with the topic of inequality, by introducing a theoretical framework that will define inequality along a set of different dimensions. Practical indicators will be discussed and compared, to get a better view of how inequality is developing across the globe. Next, we shall turn to the relation between globalisation and security, which will address a wide range of social issues, such as peace, crime, environment, health, poverty, financial stability, employment, working conditions and social cohesion. The course will conclude with an analysis of the interaction between globalisation and identity.
This course will address central issues in Israeli politics and society. We will study Israel’s political system, its origins, its formal structure, institutions and the way it functions. We will discuss main issues and critical rifts in Israeli society. First, we will deal with politics, highlighting Israeli parties, the electoral system and state institutions, political leadership and political elite and political behavior. During the second part of the course we will analyze various dimensions of the Israeli most crucial rifts, such as the socio-economic one, the ethnic, national, ideological, religious, gender. Finally, we will examine future challenges facing Israeli society and politics. Throughout the course, we will focus on public policy and its impact on Israeli society, while asking ourselves is Israeli society in crisis and if so what should and can be done to deal with the problems and improve the situation?
The course deals with the historical and intellectual development of major political ideas and theories. The aim of the course is to focus on the interrelationship between political theory and normative questions, such as: Who should govern? Why should I obey the state? What are the limits of my liberty? Are citizens equal? Each historical period will be represented by one or several political philosophers (see bibliography). We will try to understand what the political philosophers said about political and ethical issues, how they developed their ideas and theories and in which historical and intellectual context they worked. The students will be asked to draw comparisons between the political thinkers.
The course provides a comprehensive examination of politics and societies in the Middle East focusing on the modern era. It explores the dynamics of the state-building process which took place in the course of the twentieth century and examines the major ideologies, the geopolitical changes and socio-political trends in the contemporary Middle East. In the ideological realm, the course will evaluate the impact of pan-Arabism, nationalism, Islamism and sectarian divides and analyse the role of the major players in this region. The discussion will conclude with assessing the significance of the Arab Spring in relation to national, regional, ethnic and sectarian disputes.
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the foundations for empirical political research. Students will learn the fundamentals of scientific inquiry, research design, and various types of research methodology including regression analysis, network analysis, process tracing, and others.
The course will examine the political, social, technological, legal, and economic aspects of governance and public policy in the digital era. The course will explore various theoretic models of e-government and the challenges of integrating politics and technology. It will provide a thorough comparative analysis of IT policies around the world, and offer tools for the design of e-government and IT policies on the international, national, and local levels. As part of the course, we will inquire into the effects of the internet on individual and social rights; discuss various models of transparency, citizen participation, and open government data; and examine how the internet could improve the democratic process, empowering citizens and strengthening governmental accountability.
The course "Theories In The Study Of Terrorism And Guerrilla" deals with basic terrorism research questions. During the course, issues concerning the definition of terrorism and guerrilla warfare will be discussed. Furthermore the various aspects of terrorism strategy will be examined (terrorism and media, public opinion).The normative significance of terrorism and counter-terrorism will be evaluated, emphasizing in particular, the difficulties encountered by a democratic regime in dealing with the terror phenomenon effectively – "the democratic dilemma". The course will analyze different aspects of international and local terrorism (in reference to Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas) with special focus on current and future trends (suicide attacks, non conventional terrorism – CBRN, cyber terrorism, etc).
This course is designed to be an introduction to the history, political institutions, policy and foreign relations of the European Union. We will focus on a historical and theoretical discussion of the establishment of the Union and the process of European integration; the Union's ongoing development (institutions, economy and law); the Lisbon Treaty and the potential for federalisation; the recent rounds of enlargement; while conluding with the external relations of the Union, with special emphasis on the relations between Europe and Israel.
The course will provide an overview analysis of the Arab-Israeli conflict including of the main milestones and developments in it. Psychological and cultural aspects of the conflict will be described and analyzed as well as policies and strategies conducted by the sides throughout the years. Peace initiatives, rounds of negotiations and mediation efforts will be overviewed as well.
This course covers the story of Israel’s constitutional law in a comparative view. Each topic is first explored from theoretical and comparative perspectives. On this basis, we will study and evaluate the approach of Israeli constitutional law. The course is composed of three sections: a) Theory & History; b) Israel's Bill of Rights; c) Constitutional Dilemmas. The course includes lectures and active discussions. Students are expected to come to class having completed the readings for the class and be prepared to discuss them, as participation is an important part of the course.
The course will review major issues in the field of conflict resolution. Different types of conflicts will be discussed, including their definitions and components. We will explore theories explaining how conflicts erupt, ways to manage them, tactics and strategies to resolve them, and more. The course will be taught from a variety of perspectives, including social psychology, sociology, political science and international relations. It will present different models of understanding in the field of conflict research, analyzing various levels of dispute: the personal, the communal, and the international.
The class is an introduction to public international law – the body of law traditionally understood as governing state-to-state relationships. The course will address the fundamental question of whether international law is really law and, if so, what it consists of. Other areas covered in this course include the notion of international legal personality, the relationship between national and international law, an overview of the rules governing resort to force, as well as international courts and tribunals. Discussion is an inherent part of the class, in particular discussion of case studies and news items. The final grade consists of an exam and mid-term assignment.
Course Description Traditional diplomacy dealt with political and military issues that were defined by many scholars as “High Politics”. In contrast, economic, social and cultural issues were labeled “Low Politics”. Since the second half of the 20th century economic diplomacy has been perceived as an integral part of “High Politics”. This is emphasized by economic summits where attention is focused on economic matters alongside political and military problems that are part of the global agenda. At a regional level, the peace process in the Middle East included multilateral economic conferences parallel to political conferences. Another example is the Barcelona process which included cooperation on three dimensions: economic as well as political and cultural. The course will define the concept economic diplomacy, examine its unique features, explore its developments in the early years of the 21st century and will conclude with a discussion of Israel’s foreign economic policy. Prerequisites: Recommended a course in diplomacy (can be taken simultaneously) or diplomatic history.
This class provides both a historical survey and a contextual analysis of Israel’s foreign policy from 1948 to our days. We will address the foreign policy dilemmas of Israel’s founding fathers; the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict; Israel’s foreign policy toward Europe, the United States, the Soviet Union/Russia, Asia, Africa and Latin America; and topical issues such as Israel’s relations with the Jewish Diasporas and the UN, as well as Israel’s strategy in the global geopolitics of energy.
The course conveys the theoretical foundations and empirical manifestations of public diplomacy as these have developed in the twenty first century, with reference to the unique challenges facing the State of Israel in this regard. We will survey the development of public diplomacy and analyze it in relation to related fields, including marketing, public relations, 'propaganda' and branding. We will analyze the rapid development of the modern global arena, emphasizing the role of multilateral institutions, NGOs and the information technology revolution. We will take an in-depth look at Israel's unique challenges in its effors to mount an effective public diplomacy policy. We will expand on initiatives taken by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard, with a close look at current examples. In the context of the course, students will form teams to devise public diplomacy strategies for Israel which they will present to the class. 20% of the course grade will be based on these presentations. 80% of the grade is based on a final exam. The course combines theoretical literature with practical insights drawn from the lecturer's experience as policy advisor to Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs (2010-2012; 2014-2015) and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015-) and as Deputy Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles (2012-2014).
Mr. Arik Segal
The rapid technological developments of the past decade made the World Economic Forum to mark this era as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, characterized by "a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds". The changes caused by the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” will have a profound impact on social, economic and political systems. The availability of innovative technologies and their immense power, created new spaces where conflicts take place, as well as new tools and platforms that could be utilized in conflict resolution. In a growing multicultural and technologically connected world, there is a need to use new thinking and new tools to promote cooperation and collaborations. In this highly innovative and practical workshop, students will learn how to perform online mediation between nations using Facebook, how to manage new types of virtual conflicts such as "Fake News" or hate speech and how to use technologies such as: artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, 3D Printing and virtual reality in conflict resolution processes. The tools, models and methodologies learned in the workshop will provide the students with a unique experience for working in international relations, governance and international conflict resolution sectors.
Dr. Amnon Cavari
This course introduces central features of American politics and government at the national level. The objectives of this course are for students to understand the basic “building blocks” of the American political System. We will consider the challenges faced by public officials as they attempt to meet a broad array of demands from the public, and consider why Americans feel discomfort with their government.
Dr. Avner Barnea
There is a great similarity between national strategic intelligence and strategic intelligence in business. Since they are both based on the same discipline, but there are differences resulting from the implementation of the special nature of the two areas. So far, these areas studied separately. For the first time in my doctoral thesis: "Comparative analysis of intelligence failures in the national sphere and in business" there was an attempt to combine the two disciplines in order to enrich our understanding within the field of strategic intelligence. Despite the extensive activity in strategic intelligence scholars and experts agreed that it is necessary to break through the "glass ceiling" of the intelligence product quality.one option is the mutual learning from the national intelligence to intelligence in business and vice versa.
Prof. Michael Leitner
Amidst all the bad news related to the lack of a peace process and the Arab-Israeli conflict seeming to be worse than ever, significant progress is being made toward improving Arab-Jewish relations through a variety of recreational activity programs being conducted throughout Israel with Arabs and Jews. There are over 50 organizations in Israel involved in providing these kind of programs. In this workshop students will learn the practicalities of how these programs work and how to make them more effective. Students will learn how to plan and lead activities that can have a positive impact on relations and improve attitudes of Arabs and Jews toward each other. During the workshop students will be exposed to and participate in a variety of activities and icebreakers that can be utilized in an attempt to improve relations. Students will also learn how to evaluate the impact of activities on attitudes. In summary, the workshop focuses on the development of skills related to the implementation of recreational activity programs designed to improve relations between Arabs and Jews in Israel.
Ms. Gili Dekel
The Excel workshop will provide the student with basic knowledge of the software, including opening a new sheet, basic tools and orientation in the toolbar, entering data and basic formulas. The student will receive a pass/ fail grade based on attendance and submission of several exercises.
The course introduces the fundamental principles of data science in a "soft" fashion (i.e. with minimal use of formal/mathematical representation). It walks the students through the "data-analytic thinking" process, which underlies the extraction of useful information and knowledge from data in general, and business data in particular. The course utilizes real-world business problems to illustrate the fundamental principles of data science and introduce some widely used data-mining techniques in use today. By doing so, the course demonstrates how data science methods can be applied to support business decision-making.
Global Affairs & Conflict Resolution
The nature and scope of Transatlantic relations - between North America and Europe - will continue to have a distinctive mark on world affairs in the 21st Century. Although not exclusively, the focal point of this relationship is NATO that was established in the early days of the Cold War. Current relations are characterized by a broad range of common values and interests, alongside different outlooks and not insignificant disputes. Despite the emergence of new centers of power in global politics and the possible "End of the West", this unique relationship still matters. The basic question is: what role could the best alliance in history play today and in the foreseeable future? To offer plausible answers to this question and other policy issues, the purpose of the course is to review and analyze the main political and strategic issues on the current transatlantic agenda, the role of this relationship on the world stage, and its relations with third parties, including Russia, China, and the Middle East.
The rise of China is one of the most important phenomena in the modern international system. Within 40 years China has transformed from a poor and isolated country into an economic and political power with growing influence on various fields in the global system. The course will provide a better understanding of international affairs from the Chinese perspective. The course analyses China's modern political and economic policy in light of China's growing role in international affairs. Course goals include gaining a thorough understanding of the variables affecting Chinese policy, and realizing the major internal forces involved in the decision making process.
Mr. Ori Barzel
The course will introduce and discuss the basic terminology of strategic thinking, intelligence, national security, and policy planning. It will focus on decision-making processes (Foreign Policy Decision Making) and discuss the Cold War era, unipolar and multipolar systems in international politics, the Iranian nuclear project, and conclude with strategy and negotiations in the Middle East in the 21st century.
Prof. Alberto Spektorowski
One of the questions we pose in this course is whether the conceptual axiom that took root in the last twenty years, i.e. the end of ideologies and the triumph of liberal democracy is really true. Although the number of democracies had increased considerably in the last decades, still, we witness the beginning of a setback not only in the non-western world, but also in Europe. The increasing number of Radical Right-Wing movements in Europe and their growing influence in the respective countries has led several scholars to rethink and wonder on whether some of the political phenomena of the last 20 century is not back. With the financial crisis in the European Union we are beginning to witness the return of nationalism, of populism and some would even say of Neo-Fascism. This course strives to put some order in that conceptualization, while tracing the origins of nationalism, fascism and populism. We will deal with historical phenomena, ideological roots and political practice, and will try to analyze whether we are heading towards a more liberal world or back to the dark times of the 20th century. We will further discuss whether the very idea of liberal democracy is viable or is it in a steady process of decline.
African states are new states. Most of them exist merely half a century. But are these states "normal" states only young, or are they different kind of states? The course will help students to appreciate the unique characteristics of African states and understand better issues such as international marginalization, poverty, political instability and migration in and from Africa.
Dr. Dana Wolf
We negotiate every day in almost every context and on different issues. We negotiate as individuals, representatives or agents in the private and public sector, as entrepreneurs and as leaders. Negotiation skills are required for creating value, particularly for leaders working in the private, public and non-profit sectors. While we often assume that negotiation is an intuitive skill that we are either blessed with or not, everyone can improve his/her understanding and performance in negotiation, strategies and practice. This workshop is aimed to teach the fundamentals of how to become a better negotiator. The ability to negotiate successfully rests on a combination of analytical and interpersonal skills. Students will learn the principles, strategies and tactics of effective negotiation, including in depth analysis of context, structure, interests, opportunities, barriers to agreement and possible strategies and moves. Students will also learn about the importance of interpersonal skills of communication, relationship and trust building, mutual benefit and persuasion in the negotiation process. The workshop will be largely experiential. We will conduct numerous role-play exercises that place the student in different bargaining positions and different types of conflict. Through repeated practice, students will have opportunities to discover and understand their natural tendencies in negotiation as well as to develop and hone their skills by participating in simulations and developing their proficiency using the principles presented in the assigned reading and class discussion.
Why are people willing to sacrifice themselves for group-based goals? Are conflicts inherent to human nature? How do cognitive biases interfere with leaders' decision-making? And can processes of political radicalization be averted? These questions, among others, are the province of political psychology, an interdisciplinary field inspired by a broad range of disciplines, including psychology, political science, international relations, media, sociology and economics. This course will focus on the psychological dynamics of diverse political phenomena such as voting behavior, decision making processes and inter-group conflicts. Throughout the course we will conduct critical discussions of major theoretical approaches and empirical research on the interaction between political and psychological processes, and how they impact human behavior in various contexts, particularly in ongoing local and global political conflicts.
This course provides a historical overview of the principal theories that have characterised the political economy from medieval times until the present, while touching on the effects these theories have had on the economic welfare of the world population. We will first look at how Mercantilism, Liberalism (Smith and Ricardo), Marxism and Utilitarianism (Jevons) rose as logical historical reactions to each other within the political and economy parameters of the era, with special emphasis given to the link between said theories and the major economic developments that were occurring simultaneously on the ground. Next, we shall turn to the era of the 1930s Great Depression, and how a decade of sustained economic stagnation reignited the pre-existing 19th century debate, this time largely along the lines of Keynesianists vs. Communists (e.g. Hobsbawm and Jessop). We will then turn to the rise and development of the Social Welfare State in different parts of the world, mainly during the latter half of the 20th century (Esping Andersen and Offe). Some time will also be dedicated to Dependency Theory, in an attempt to examine the links between the world’s economic centre (i.e. “The First World”) and its periphery (i.e. the “Third World”), while equally discussing its critics. This takes us to the rise of the Neo-Liberal paradigm (Von Mises and Friedman), which will be discussed while dealing with both its theoretical underpinnings and practical effects. We will conclude the course with the latest new currents in the field, namely Post-Modern views on the political economy (in the broad sense of the word), and the input given by Feminist economic analysts. The course strongly encourages lively, free and open participation with a non-dogmatic outlook.
Dr. Amichai Magen
This research seminar invites advanced BA students to explore some of the key defining features of the modern international system. Set in a small-group interactive environment, and utilizing different disciplinary approaches, we will examine some of the main ideas, institutions, and practices that have shaped our political world over the last two hundred years, but especially since the end of the Second World War (1945) and the end of the Cold War (1989-991) when new types of international orders emerged. Through interactive exploration of the notions of order, statehood, sovereignty, liberal internationalism and more, students will gain vital insights into the nature and workings of global affairs. Students will also have an opportunity to develop their analytical, presentation, and writing skills, by generating (with the instructor's assistance) an individual research paper on a mutually agreed topic.
Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security
Dr. Gil Ariely
The course explores innovation and adaptation in Terrorism and in Counter-Terrorism. Innovation and operational learning characterize terrorist organizations in the information age, and require innovating in countering terrorism and in learning lessons swiftly. This course conceptualizes this important dimension requiring governments and militaries to become adaptive as the “Learning Competition”. The ability of a nation to ‘out-learn’ its adversary is essential, especially in asymmetric conflicts and counterinsurgencies, or versus terrorist networks that act as a ‘Complex Adaptive System’ and intuitive learning organizations. The course will explore the concept of ‘learning competitions’ from historical examples to recent days, examine emerging learning patterns in terrorist organizations (and amongst them), and demonstrate how it supports terrorist innovation. This course will use contemporary case studies of asymmetric conflicts where such learning competitions emerged, examining real-time learning capabilities that may enable leaders to be agile and organizations to be adaptive. The course covers sources of innovation for terrorism and adaptation mechanisms. The interrelationships of technology, IT, and more specifically the cyberspace as infrastructure for accelerating learning and innovation, are examined connecting Cyber terrorism with learning patterns. Learning interdependencies at both sides of conflicts are explored from tactical to operational and strategic learning competitions, versus hybrid adversaries. The impact of learning competitions on national security, strategy and on operations is explored, as well as on future requirements of policy, organizational and force structure, training and education.
Dr. Barak Michael
Since the 1970s jihadists have expanded in number and in geographic scope. The Afghan war in the 1980s had a prominent role in accelerating the transformation of local jihadist groups to transnational jihadist groups such as the GIA in Algeria in the 1990s. The course aims to examine the beginning and development of several local jihadist groups and its activity in jihadist theaters. In each jihadist theatre from West Africa to the southern Philippines, there exists a lengthy history of ethnic, tribal or sectarian conflict which we will review to understand its influence on the jihadists and the interactions between them. The course will focus as well on Palestinian jihadists movements including Hamas abd its interactions with jihadists around the globe.
Dr. Ori Goldberg
Is there an "Islamic" ideology? What is the relationship between faith and politics in the Muslim world? How has this relationship shaped the visions of "radical" Islamic groups and organizations today? Why and how are they radical? We will address these questions, alongside others, throughout the course. We will read ideological texts from across the spectrum of Islamic radicalism, discuss them in depth, and attempt to think critically of the ways in which such radicalism thinks of itself and is understood outside the Muslim world. Most of the readings will be carried out together, in class.
Prof. Boaz Ganor & Mr. Stevie Weinberg
In this course, we will examine the development of Israel's counter-terrorism policies from the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 until the present, in light of the development of the terrorism challenge faced by Israel in the Palestinian, Lebanese and international arenas. We will examine the various positions taken by Israeli decision-makers in contending with the terrorism phenomenon, differences of opinion and various schools of thought, decision-making procedures and their output.
This Research Seminar invites advanced BA students to examine the rapidly evolving relationship between political violence (terrorism, insurgency, and radicalization) and governance (statehood, sovereignty, regime type, the rule of law, economic development, and human rights), and to develop new thinking about policy solutions to the current crisis of governance in the Middle East and North Africa. Current global reality is contains a fundamental paradox. On the one hand, large portions of the world have achieved unprecedented political freedom, economic affluence, and technological interconnectedness – creating a virtuous circle of interdependence and democratic peace. But on the other hand, about a third of the world’s states are unable to provide basic security and prevent their territory and people from being used in various ways by global jihadists as safe havens and bases from which to attack Western democracies. Fragile and collapsed states – such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – are not only havens for terrorists, but pose a uniquely difficult set of security and policy challenges to the international community. Why does so much of contemporary international terrorism emerge from fragile and failed states? What, if anything can be done about it? Can failed states be transformed? Are economic development and democracy promotion the answer? The research seminar offers students with a unique opportunity to examine these questions in a small interactive setting, using interdisciplinary materials and analytic approaches.
Adv. Deborah Housen-Couriel & Adv. Uri Ben Yaakov
The course will provide a comprehensive look at different legal tools relevant to counter terrorism, in relation to various fields of law, both in the international sphere as well as national one - focusing mainly on the Israeli case study (although practices in other countries will also be discussed). The course will also look at suggested changes to the currant framework. While, as its name implies, the course will include a focus on the legal perspective, it will do so at a level appropriate to non-legally trained students, and will also include historical, operational and ethical perspectives, that steam from the questions that will be addressed.
Dr. Eitan Azani
The course will discuss the following items: - Radical Islamic Ideologies - Radicalization Process – from Da‟wa to Jihad - The Evolvement of Global Jihad - Selected Strategies and Modus Operendi of Selected Terrorist Organizations - ISIS - Al Qaeda - Hezbollah The scope of terrorist attacks launched in the US post-September 11, the growing use of the threat of using unconventional weapons, and the spread of a radical-Islamic network of terrorism have transformed the once localized threat of terrorism into an international problem. By intentionally targeting civilians while exploiting the freedom embedded in liberal-democratic values, terrorism presents a difficult and complex challenge to decision- makers and counter-terrorism experts
Dr. Sivan Hirsch-Hoefler
The course examines and analyzes cases and episodes of political violence and terrorism in Israel. In doing this, the course will backtrack to the early years of the state, and when necessary, to the pre-state era, in order to learn about the origins and sources of violent and terrorist groups and organizations whose operations and activities, or the fingerprints of their activities, we still experience in the present. In engaging in such a historical journey, we will familiarize ourselves with different backgrounds and contexts that motivated individuals and groups to engage in violent, at times indiscriminate, political behavior.
Middle East
Dr. Ido Zelkovitz
The course discusses the history of the Palestinian society since WWI, the emergence of its national movement and its struggle for nation building and for statehood. It examines the development of Palestinian society and politics, after 1948, under three regimes (Jordan, Egypt and Israel) as well as in their Diasporas, especially in Europe and the Gulf. We will explore the reemergence of the Palestinian organizations as a political factor in the 1960s and the 1970s and the military role they have played ever since. Special Emphasis in our course given to the post Oslo accords period, The Establishment of the Palestinian Authority and its complicated relationship with the Islamic factions of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
Prof. Ilai Alon
Objectives:
1. Examine the role of culture in Islamic perception and conduct of conflicts.
2. Introduce graduate students to academic research and publishing.
Requirements:
1. Writing and submitting a seminar paper (up to 20 pages.)
2. Attendance
3. Active participation.
Grading:
1. Paper - 60% a. Level of questions - 15% b. Originality - 15% c. Argumentation - 10% d. Writing style - 10% e. Editing - 10%
2. Attendance - 20%
3. Active participation - 20% a. Critique - 10% b. Ideas - 10%
Bibliography General : (available in library) Wheeler, Brannon M. (2003). Teaching Islam. New York: Oxford University Press. Part two. Salzman, P. C. (2008). Culture and conflict in the Middle East. Prometheus Books. Writing Guidelines: https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/strategies-essay-writing Spepcific: By consultation with teacher. Structure: 1. Opening Meeting 1 2. Substantial introduction Meetings 2-4 3. Student presentations and discussions Meetings 5-10 4. Student lectures Meetings 11-12 5. Conclusions and recommendations Meeting 13
Dr. Elisheva Machlis
The Islamic Republic's geostrategic aims as they developed over the past thirty five years reflect the complexity of the Iranian identity that incorporates nationalism, Shi'i sectarianism and universal Islamic aspirations. Accordingly, the importance of the Iranian nuclear project is linked to the country's revolutionary agenda but also its desire for regional hegemony. The nuclear negotiations with the five world powers demonstrate the dynamism of this regime and the centrality of Iran in an unstable region. This course will evaluated the current relations between Iran and the region, while exploring questions of identity, resources, interests and strategy. The aim is to understand the unique elements of the Iranian model, but also the potential for flexibility and change, in order to assess Iran's regional policy. Iran will also serve as case-study to discuss regime stability under authoritarian countries, as well as rationalism and irrationalism in decision-making in these regimes, in the national and geostrategic levels.
Business Administration
Dr. Yaniv Gvili
Marketing is the business function that deals with customers' needs and wants. The role of marketing management is to help companies better understand customer preferences, link that knowledge to designing appropriate products and services for selected customers, and determine appropriate methods to deliver and capture value. Successful firms are those that pursue objectives, deploy resources, and invest in the future of an organization, to consistently satisfy the needs of customers better than competitors. The basic principles of marketing apply to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Dr. Galit Ben Tovel
Organizations are a fact of every-day life. From classrooms to corporations, from social clubs to study teams – we are constantly immersed in formal and informal organizations. This course will provide an opportunity for student to explore the organizational and managerial environment as a whole. We will discuss a variety of topics, including individuals’ communication, motivation, emotions, and perception, group-work dynamics, leadership, power, conflicts, organizational change, organizational design and development, and environmental influences. The goals of this course are: To deepen students’ understanding of individuals’ behavior in organizations; To improve their ability to assess organizational dynamics and identify potential problems and opportunities; To develop interpersonal skills that will enable students to perform better and therefore become more valuable members of organizations; To develop students’ ability to effectively lead others under various organizational situations. Class meetings will involve lectures, videos, analysis of case studies, and exercises. Additionally, students will be expected to assess, explore, and reflect on their own experiences and behavior, and discuss ways in which they might apply the material to their daily lives.
This course provides students with a real platform and tools for creating and managing a new business. It enables teams of entrepreneurs & business partners - the students - to develop a new business, from the inception of an idea to the fruition of a company producing value. This course would enable the students to capitalize upon their entrepreneurship skills, start and build their own new company, making a meaningful economic and social impact on their own life as well as on society. This course is designed to give students the utmost hands on experience in starting up new companies. This includes innovation strategy, structured process for choosing the most likely winning business ideas, business viability check and derived action plan for the new business, capital raise, management of the new company's processes and most essential resources, management of an effective sales effort, management of the board's work and leveraging the value-add of the company's investors. The students will learn how to think and perform as entrepreneurs and managers, and how to think and view their new businesses from the investors' perspective.
Dr. Uri Ullmann
This course is an upper level seminar for students who are interested in the busines specialization within Government. The course is conducted in English and focuses on runing 3 simulations (one in the current year and two in the future) trying to establish economic peace between the Palestinians and Israel. During the course we discuss several concepts pertainig to economic peace and try to follow economic developments in the regions between the principal actors.During the course an effort will be made to invite a guest lecturer. Prerequisites: Recommended a course in diplomacy (can be taken simultaneously)
Additional Electives
Mr. Henrique Cyerman
This class discusses the role of media in conflicts in the Middle East, the place with the highest number of journalists (per meter) in the world. The lectures will bring students face-to-face with the primary characters in some of the most significant conflicts in the Middle East, based on interviews with people accused of committing genocide, orchestrating terrorism and leading countries. Among other conflicts, students will examine the changes in the region, the new configuration of the Middle East, 100 years after the Sykes-Picot agreement, including the downfall of five states, the Arab Spring and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Also, students will explore the perspective of years of Global Jihad, starting from Al-Qaeda to the Islamic State. In addition, students will learn about the freedom of the press, focusing on the Arab-Israeli conflict as suffering, more than any other conflict, from a huge series of false reports by the Israeli and international press.
Dr. Uri Resnick
The course introduces public diplomacy as it has emerged in the 21st Century, with a specific focus on the unique challenges faced by the State of Israel in this field. We will look at both theoretical and empirical aspects of public diplomacy, overviewing the development of public diplomacy and examine its connections to related fields, including marketing, public relations, and branding. We will explore techniques for promoting creativity and will focus on the impact on public diplomacy of the modern global arena, emphasizing the rise in importance of multi-lateral fora, NGOs and other non-governmental entities along with the information revolution. We will analyze Israel’s unique challenges as it strives to formulate and implement effective public diplomacy policies. As part of the requirements for the course, students will work in groups to formulate a public diplomacy campaign. They will be tasked with drafting a public diplomacy brief and putting together a visual presentation to pitch the campaign. The course incorporates the scholarly literature on public diplomacy with practical insights drawn from the lecturer’s experience since 2002 in Israel’s Foreign Service. The lecturer currently serves as Director of Policy Planning and Net Assessment in Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has served in the past as foreign policy advisor to Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense.
For the entire list of courses please refer to the Student Handbook
*Reichman University reserves the right to cancel, alter, or expand the academic programs and courses offered.
**Students enrolled in the single major Government, Diplomacy & Strategy will take one cluster (19 credits) and one minor area of study (7 credits).
Ezra Friedman
Strategic Advisor, Foreign Policy and Energy, British Embassy
"RU allowed me to explore my passions on a plethora of foreign policy issues while providing world-class access to decision-makers and thought leaders. I am grateful for the platform and mentoring RU provided me, playing an integral role in who I am today."
Ellie Hochenberg
Host of Global Eye, I24NEWS English prime time show
"The knowledge and tools I have acquired during my studies allow me on a daily basis to zoom out and see the bigger picture, providing the oh-so-essential CONTEXT of current events. Until this day, some of my best interviewees and analysts are the teachers at RRIS. Without the intellectual infrastructure I have built during my years at the Reichman University, I wouldn’t have been able to connect the dots and get both the wider and deeper outlooks into the world we live in."
Dan Zafrir
Business Development Manager, Zinc Network, London
"RU gave me the tools and networks I needed to start out in the world of international affairs especially the Argov Fellowship for Leadership and Diplomacy. I use the analytical, negotiation, and partnering skills I learned there every day and have been able to build a support system of friends and mentors I'll take with me for a lifetime."
Kelly Odes
International Media Advisor The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs
"My career path and journey in Israel would not have been possible had it not been for the outstanding experiences I had during my Government and Diplomacy degree at RU. Not only was each class more interesting than the next, but the amount of opportunities that exist to network with people in the field and to learn real-life practical tools from extra-curricular activities is what differentiates RU."
Ben Yoel
Political Science PhD Student at Michigan State University, Graduate TA and Research Assistant
"Reichman University, and particularly the immense opportunities to work with faculty members, opened my eyes to the academic and research path and provided me with the information and skills necessary to pursue a Ph.D."
May Saporta
Business Development & Partnerships Manager at (FICC)
"During my BA studies, I took an active part at the student union and managed the Melamed project and scholarships department. I was an intern of the Abba Eban Institute at the Asia Program and did a student exchange semester in Shanghai, Jiao Tong University."
Ido Levy
Associate Fellow at The Washington Institute For Near East Policy
"My experience at RU was indispensable to the work I do now. RU gave me a unique, advanced understanding of counterterrorism and jihadist groups that would have been hard to come by at other academic institutions. I use what I learned at RU on a daily basis in my work."
Talya Ohana
Consultant at Deloitte Catalyst
"The Government program at RU equipped me with the proper strategic and analytical skills necessary to serve as Consultant to large corporations. Mentorships from various coordinators, teachers, and leadership at RU enabled me to dream big and have the confidence to succeed in a dynamic and demanding industry. "
Eitan Fischberger
MA Candidate of Political Sciences and International Relations at HebrewU
"At RU, I learned about the fascinating world of public diplomacy and counterterrorism from world-renowned experts with firsthand experience in the fields. I took part in some of the school's amazing clubs and internships that really helped motivate me and gave me the tools to fight for Israel's public image a drive that I continue to integrate into my professional career."