Immigration and the Nation State

Are Immigration Trends Threatening the Modern Nation State?

IMMIGRATION AND THE NATION STATE

Are Immigration Trends Threatening the Modern Nation State?

March 17 – 18, 2013, Israel Democracy Institute, 4 Pinsker St., Jerusalem - Israel was established as a country of immigrants, but 65 years later immigration has become a serious point of contention on the country's political agenda. Israel, along with other nation states worldwide, is struggling to maintain a strong national identity while providing for diversity and multiculturalism.

Join policymakers, opinion-leaders, and academics for a two-day conference exploring the cultural, social, and political implications of immigration on nation states. The international conference - held jointly by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) and Metzilah, the Center for Zionist, Jewish, Liberal and Humanist Thought - will be conducted in English. Simultaneous translation into Hebrew will be provided.

The first day of the conference will focus on the global implications of immigration on the nation state, exploring policies adopted by countries around the world. The second day will concentrate on the unique challenges facing Israel. Sessions include:

  • Defining the Jewish Nation and the Question of Immigration to Israel
  • The Impact of the Citizenship Law on the Legal Status of the Arab Minority
  • Integrating Islam and Muslims into the Secular Legal State
  • Before the Majority Becomes the Minority

This is the third conference in a series of international conferences conducted under the auspices of IDI's Nation State project. Its proceedings will be published in a book by Sussex University Press.

The conference will be chaired by Israel Prize winning historian Prof. Anita Shapira, and speakers will include:

  • Prof. Ruth Gavison, President, Metzilah; Professor of Human Rights Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Prof. Moshe Halbertal, Professor of Jewish Philosophy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Prof. Daniel Friedmann, former Minister of Justice
  • Prof. Amnon Rubinstein, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya and former Shinui MK
  • Adv. Daniel Solomon, Israel's Population and Immigration Authority
  • Adv. Sawsan Zaher, Adalah Center
  • Prof. Christian Joppke, University of Bern
  • Prof. Pierre Birnbaum, University of Paris 1
  • Prof. Rogers M. Smith, University of Pennsylvania
  • Prof. Noah Pickus, Duke University
  • Prof. Peter H. Schuck, Yale University (via video)
  • Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer, Vice President of Research, Israel Democracy Institute

The conference will be streamed live on the IDI website and will be available afterwards on the IDI YouTube channel. For more information, see the event page.

To RSVP or arrange an interview, please contact:
Yehoshua Oz
IDI Director of International Communications
press@idi.org.il
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