Page 17 - Issue 20

to create an independent state in which Jewish
culture is primary. Zionism means this and no
more. After that one begins to argue about what
kind of state it should be - a democracy or
otherwise; religious or secular; socialist or
capitalist; where it should be located; what its
borders should be; what principles should govern
its relations with its neighbours; and where it
should stand in international politics. Hence we
have Socialist Zionism, Revisionist Zionism,
Religious Zionism etc., each with its own answers
to these questions.

Nationalism as Anachronism

I believe that Zionism's general goal is completely
justifiable. I believe equally that the creation of an
independent state is not an end in itself, unless of
course we see it as a refuge from persecution and
no more. However, if the purpose of creating an
independent state is to express a social-cultural
goal then the justification for independence lies in
the desire of that society to achieve that goal.

It is sometimes argued that nationalism is a divisive
force and should therefore be abandoned.
However, this argument fails to distinguish
between nationalism and the nation-state.
Nationalism is a sociological phenomenon - it is a
group identification based on common traditions,
collective memories, a shared culture and
language, an association with a particular piece of
land, and a sense of historical process. The nation-
state, on the other hand, is an artificial entity. It is a