Authoritarianism Curbed? Populism, Democracy and War in Israel
Guy Ben-Porat & Dani Filc
Since January 2023 hundreds of thousand Israelis took to the streets in an unprecedented wave of protests against the governments' plan to restrict the power of the Supreme Court. The government, a coalition between the Likud's populist party, the Ultra-Orthodox and the extreme religious-right announced a legislation package threatening Israel's institutions' -limited- liberal constitutionalism, opening the possibility of authoritarianism. Right-wing populism, that in its Israeli version combines populist tropes with religion and nationalism, combined with other radical right parties to form a tight and determined coalition set to transform Israel's political system into what was described by the government's opposition as an authoritarian (and theocratic) threat. Notwithstanding the governments' intentions we argue, using the Israeli case study, that the "slide" from right-wing populism to authoritarianism is not inevitable. First, right-wing populism positions itself as anti-liberal rather than anti-democratic. Consequently, second, it has to contend with a potential opposition, a large one undermining its claim to speak "for the people." And third, when anti-liberal stance relies also on religious discourse, it not only evokes liberal opposition but also divisions among populists regarding religious authority. These three reasons make authoritarianism a possibility but not an obligatory telos.
Keywords: Israel, populism, democracy, religion, authoritarianism
References
Avigur‐Eshel, A. and Filc, D. (2021). “Not merely ideological: The political economy of populism in government.” Swiss Political Science Review, 27(2), pp.506-526.
Ben-Porat, G. (2005). “Netanyhau’s Second Coming: A Neoconservative Policy Paradigm.” Israel Studies, 10, no. 3: 225–245
Ben Porat, G. and Filc, D. (2022). “Remember to be Jewish: religious populism in Israel.” Politics and Religion, 15(1), pp.61-84.
Ben-Porat, G. and Yuval, F., (2007). “Israeli neo-conservatism: rise and fall?” Israel Studies Review, 22(1), pp.3-25.
Betz, H.G., (2001). “Exclusionary Populism in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.” International Journal, 56(3), pp.393-420
BHH. (2023). Poll: This is the picture of the elections, https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1576373 (last entered August 2023) (Hebrew).
Cohen, J.L. and Arato A. (2018). “Civil society, populism, and religion.” Routledge handbook of global populism, pp.112-126.
Chaves, Mark (1994). “Secularization as Declining Religious Authority.” Social Forces 72(3), pp. 749–774.
De la Torre, C. (1997). “Populism and democracy: political discourses and cultures in contemporary Ecuador.” Latin American Perspectives, 24(3), pp.12-24.
Dobbelaere, Karel. (1999). “Toward an Integrated Perspective on the Process Related to the Descriptive Concept of Secularization.” Sociology of Religion, 60(3): 229–247.
Filc D. (2006). Populism and Hegemony. Tel Aviv: Resling (Hebrew).
Filc, D. (2009). The political right in Israel: Different faces of Jewish populism. Routledge
Freeden M. (1996). Ideologies and Political Theory: A Conceptual Approach Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Hermet, G. (2001). Les Populismes dans le monde: Une histoire sociologique (XIXe-XXe siècle). Fayard.
IDI, Israel Democracy Institute (2023). July 2023 Pol. https://www.idi.org.il/articles/50443 (accessed in August 2023).
Kimmerling, Baruch. (2004). Immigrants, Settlers, Natives: The Israeli State and Society Between Cultural Pluralism and Cultural Wars. Tel-Aviv: Am Oved (Hebrew).
Kopelowitz E. (2001). “Religious Politics and Israel’s Ethnic Democracy.” Israel Studies, 6:166–90
Leon, Nissim. (2014). “Ethno-religious Fundamentalism and Theo-Ethnocratic Politics in Israel.” Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 14(1):20–35.
Levi, Yonatan and Agmon, Shai. (2021). "Beyond culture and economy: Israel’s security-driven populism." Contemporary Politics, 27.3: 292-315.
Levin, Y. (2019). “Interview.” The Marker, 3(4): 19. (Hebrew).
Maariv. (2023). “A new poll: 43% of Likud voters choose unity over the reform” https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-1023001 (accessed in August 2023) (Hebrew).
McClay, Wilfred M. (2001). “Two concepts of Secularization.” Journal of Policy History, 13, no.1: 47-72.
Miller, David. (1995). On Nationality. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Mudde, C. (2004). “The populist zeitgeist.” Government and opposition, 39(4), pp.541-563.
Mudde, C. (2007). Populist radical right parties in Europe (p. 234). Cambridge: Cambridge university press.
Müller, J.W. (2017). What is populism? Penguin UK.
Netanyahu, B. (2015). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2cUoglR1yk
Norris, Pippa and Inglehart, Ronald. (2004). Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pappas, T.S. (2019). Populism and liberal democracy: A comparative and theoretical analysis. Oxford University Press.
Peled Y. (1998). “Towards a Redefinition of Jewish Nationalism in Israel: The Enigma of Shas.” Ethnic and Racial Studies, 21: 703–27.
Ram, Uri. (2008). “Why Secularism Fails? Secular Nationalism and Religious Revivalism in Israel.” International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, 21: 57–73.
Raz-Krakotzkin, Amnon. (2000). “Rabin’s Legacy: On Secularism, Nationalism and Orientalism.” In: L. Grinberg (ed.), Contested Memory: Myth, Nationalism and Democracy. Beersheba: Humphrey Institutue, Ben-Gurion University.
Regev, M. (2015). “Interview.” Jerusalem Post, 20.6.2015.
Shikman, I. (2019). “Netanyahu: We are brothers, one nation, no other.” Ynet, 18.6.2019. Online: https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5527146,00.html (accessed on 29.11.2020)
Shilon A. (2007), Begin 1912–1992, Tel Aviv: Am Oved (Hebrew).
Taggart P. (2000). Populism, Buckingham: Open University Press
Tamir, Y. (1995). Liberal nationalism. (Vol. 47). Princeton University Press.
Yadgar, Yaakov. (2003). “Shas as A Struggle to Create a New Field: A Bourdiean Perspective of an Israeli Phenomenon.” Sociology of Religion, 64(2):223–246
Ynet (2019). “Netanyahu in Right-Wing Convention: ‘Minority Government – A Historical National Bombing’.” Ynet.17.11.2019. Online: https://www.calcalist.co.il/local/articles/0,7340,L-3773890,00.html (accessed on 26.5.2020).
Ynet (2023). “Estimations in the Likud.” https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rkmbg5rs2 (accessed in August 2023)
Ziv G. (2025). “Military Reservists and the Resistance to the Judiciary Overhaul.” Middle East Policy, 32: 33-50
Zohar, M. (2020). Facebook Post. Online: https://www.facebook.com/MKMikiZohar/photos/a.977905032227230/4480432698641095 [accessed on 29.11.2020)
Authoritarianism Curbed? Populism, Democracy and War in Israel
Guy Ben-Porat & Dani Filc
Since January 2023 hundreds of thousand Israelis took to the streets in an unprecedented wave of protests against the governments' plan to restrict the power of the Supreme Court. The government, a coalition between the Likud's populist party, the Ultra-Orthodox and the extreme religious-right announced a legislation package threatening Israel's institutions' -limited- liberal constitutionalism, opening the possibility of authoritarianism. Right-wing populism, that in its Israeli version combines populist tropes with religion and nationalism, combined with other radical right parties to form a tight and determined coalition set to transform Israel's political system into what was described by the government's opposition as an authoritarian (and theocratic) threat. Notwithstanding the governments' intentions we argue, using the Israeli case study, that the "slide" from right-wing populism to authoritarianism is not inevitable. First, right-wing populism positions itself as anti-liberal rather than anti-democratic. Consequently, second, it has to contend with a potential opposition, a large one undermining its claim to speak "for the people." And third, when anti-liberal stance relies also on religious discourse, it not only evokes liberal opposition but also divisions among populists regarding religious authority. These three reasons make authoritarianism a possibility but not an obligatory telos.
Keywords: Israel, populism, democracy, religion, authoritarianism
References
Avigur‐Eshel, A. and Filc, D. (2021). “Not merely ideological: The political economy of populism in government.” Swiss Political Science Review, 27(2), pp.506-526.
Ben-Porat, G. (2005). “Netanyhau’s Second Coming: A Neoconservative Policy Paradigm.” Israel Studies, 10, no. 3: 225–245
Ben Porat, G. and Filc, D. (2022). “Remember to be Jewish: religious populism in Israel.” Politics and Religion, 15(1), pp.61-84.
Ben-Porat, G. and Yuval, F., (2007). “Israeli neo-conservatism: rise and fall?” Israel Studies Review, 22(1), pp.3-25.
Betz, H.G., (2001). “Exclusionary Populism in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.” International Journal, 56(3), pp.393-420
BHH. (2023). Poll: This is the picture of the elections, https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1576373 (last entered August 2023) (Hebrew).
Cohen, J.L. and Arato A. (2018). “Civil society, populism, and religion.” Routledge handbook of global populism, pp.112-126.
Chaves, Mark (1994). “Secularization as Declining Religious Authority.” Social Forces 72(3), pp. 749–774.
De la Torre, C. (1997). “Populism and democracy: political discourses and cultures in contemporary Ecuador.” Latin American Perspectives, 24(3), pp.12-24.
Dobbelaere, Karel. (1999). “Toward an Integrated Perspective on the Process Related to the Descriptive Concept of Secularization.” Sociology of Religion, 60(3): 229–247.
Filc D. (2006). Populism and Hegemony. Tel Aviv: Resling (Hebrew).
Filc, D. (2009). The political right in Israel: Different faces of Jewish populism. Routledge
Freeden M. (1996). Ideologies and Political Theory: A Conceptual Approach Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Hermet, G. (2001). Les Populismes dans le monde: Une histoire sociologique (XIXe-XXe siècle). Fayard.
IDI, Israel Democracy Institute (2023). July 2023 Pol. https://www.idi.org.il/articles/50443 (accessed in August 2023).
Kimmerling, Baruch. (2004). Immigrants, Settlers, Natives: The Israeli State and Society Between Cultural Pluralism and Cultural Wars. Tel-Aviv: Am Oved (Hebrew).
Kopelowitz E. (2001). “Religious Politics and Israel’s Ethnic Democracy.” Israel Studies, 6:166–90
Leon, Nissim. (2014). “Ethno-religious Fundamentalism and Theo-Ethnocratic Politics in Israel.” Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 14(1):20–35.
Levi, Yonatan and Agmon, Shai. (2021). "Beyond culture and economy: Israel’s security-driven populism." Contemporary Politics, 27.3: 292-315.
Levin, Y. (2019). “Interview.” The Marker, 3(4): 19. (Hebrew).
Maariv. (2023). “A new poll: 43% of Likud voters choose unity over the reform” https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-1023001 (accessed in August 2023) (Hebrew).
McClay, Wilfred M. (2001). “Two concepts of Secularization.” Journal of Policy History, 13, no.1: 47-72.
Miller, David. (1995). On Nationality. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Mudde, C. (2004). “The populist zeitgeist.” Government and opposition, 39(4), pp.541-563.
Mudde, C. (2007). Populist radical right parties in Europe (p. 234). Cambridge: Cambridge university press.
Müller, J.W. (2017). What is populism? Penguin UK.
Netanyahu, B. (2015). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2cUoglR1yk
Norris, Pippa and Inglehart, Ronald. (2004). Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pappas, T.S. (2019). Populism and liberal democracy: A comparative and theoretical analysis. Oxford University Press.
Peled Y. (1998). “Towards a Redefinition of Jewish Nationalism in Israel: The Enigma of Shas.” Ethnic and Racial Studies, 21: 703–27.
Ram, Uri. (2008). “Why Secularism Fails? Secular Nationalism and Religious Revivalism in Israel.” International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, 21: 57–73.
Raz-Krakotzkin, Amnon. (2000). “Rabin’s Legacy: On Secularism, Nationalism and Orientalism.” In: L. Grinberg (ed.), Contested Memory: Myth, Nationalism and Democracy. Beersheba: Humphrey Institutue, Ben-Gurion University.
Regev, M. (2015). “Interview.” Jerusalem Post, 20.6.2015.
Shikman, I. (2019). “Netanyahu: We are brothers, one nation, no other.” Ynet, 18.6.2019. Online: https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5527146,00.html (accessed on 29.11.2020)
Shilon A. (2007), Begin 1912–1992, Tel Aviv: Am Oved (Hebrew).
Taggart P. (2000). Populism, Buckingham: Open University Press
Tamir, Y. (1995). Liberal nationalism. (Vol. 47). Princeton University Press.
Yadgar, Yaakov. (2003). “Shas as A Struggle to Create a New Field: A Bourdiean Perspective of an Israeli Phenomenon.” Sociology of Religion, 64(2):223–246
Ynet (2019). “Netanyahu in Right-Wing Convention: ‘Minority Government – A Historical National Bombing’.” Ynet.17.11.2019. Online: https://www.calcalist.co.il/local/articles/0,7340,L-3773890,00.html (accessed on 26.5.2020).
Ynet (2023). “Estimations in the Likud.” https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rkmbg5rs2 (accessed in August 2023)
Ziv G. (2025). “Military Reservists and the Resistance to the Judiciary Overhaul.” Middle East Policy, 32: 33-50
Zohar, M. (2020). Facebook Post. Online: https://www.facebook.com/MKMikiZohar/photos/a.977905032227230/4480432698641095 [accessed on 29.11.2020)
Authoritarianism Curbed? Populism, Democracy and War in Israel
Guy Ben-Porat & Dani Filc
Since January 2023 hundreds of thousand Israelis took to the streets in an unprecedented wave of protests against the governments' plan to restrict the power of the Supreme Court. The government, a coalition between the Likud's populist party, the Ultra-Orthodox and the extreme religious-right announced a legislation package threatening Israel's institutions' -limited- liberal constitutionalism, opening the possibility of authoritarianism. Right-wing populism, that in its Israeli version combines populist tropes with religion and nationalism, combined with other radical right parties to form a tight and determined coalition set to transform Israel's political system into what was described by the government's opposition as an authoritarian (and theocratic) threat. Notwithstanding the governments' intentions we argue, using the Israeli case study, that the "slide" from right-wing populism to authoritarianism is not inevitable. First, right-wing populism positions itself as anti-liberal rather than anti-democratic. Consequently, second, it has to contend with a potential opposition, a large one undermining its claim to speak "for the people." And third, when anti-liberal stance relies also on religious discourse, it not only evokes liberal opposition but also divisions among populists regarding religious authority. These three reasons make authoritarianism a possibility but not an obligatory telos.
Keywords: Israel, populism, democracy, religion, authoritarianism
References
Avigur‐Eshel, A. and Filc, D. (2021). “Not merely ideological: The political economy of populism in government.” Swiss Political Science Review, 27(2), pp.506-526.
Ben-Porat, G. (2005). “Netanyhau’s Second Coming: A Neoconservative Policy Paradigm.” Israel Studies, 10, no. 3: 225–245
Ben Porat, G. and Filc, D. (2022). “Remember to be Jewish: religious populism in Israel.” Politics and Religion, 15(1), pp.61-84.
Ben-Porat, G. and Yuval, F., (2007). “Israeli neo-conservatism: rise and fall?” Israel Studies Review, 22(1), pp.3-25.
Betz, H.G., (2001). “Exclusionary Populism in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.” International Journal, 56(3), pp.393-420
BHH. (2023). Poll: This is the picture of the elections, https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1576373 (last entered August 2023) (Hebrew).
Cohen, J.L. and Arato A. (2018). “Civil society, populism, and religion.” Routledge handbook of global populism, pp.112-126.
Chaves, Mark (1994). “Secularization as Declining Religious Authority.” Social Forces 72(3), pp. 749–774.
De la Torre, C. (1997). “Populism and democracy: political discourses and cultures in contemporary Ecuador.” Latin American Perspectives, 24(3), pp.12-24.
Dobbelaere, Karel. (1999). “Toward an Integrated Perspective on the Process Related to the Descriptive Concept of Secularization.” Sociology of Religion, 60(3): 229–247.
Filc D. (2006). Populism and Hegemony. Tel Aviv: Resling (Hebrew).
Filc, D. (2009). The political right in Israel: Different faces of Jewish populism. Routledge
Freeden M. (1996). Ideologies and Political Theory: A Conceptual Approach Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Hermet, G. (2001). Les Populismes dans le monde: Une histoire sociologique (XIXe-XXe siècle). Fayard.
IDI, Israel Democracy Institute (2023). July 2023 Pol. https://www.idi.org.il/articles/50443 (accessed in August 2023).
Kimmerling, Baruch. (2004). Immigrants, Settlers, Natives: The Israeli State and Society Between Cultural Pluralism and Cultural Wars. Tel-Aviv: Am Oved (Hebrew).
Kopelowitz E. (2001). “Religious Politics and Israel’s Ethnic Democracy.” Israel Studies, 6:166–90
Leon, Nissim. (2014). “Ethno-religious Fundamentalism and Theo-Ethnocratic Politics in Israel.” Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 14(1):20–35.
Levi, Yonatan and Agmon, Shai. (2021). "Beyond culture and economy: Israel’s security-driven populism." Contemporary Politics, 27.3: 292-315.
Levin, Y. (2019). “Interview.” The Marker, 3(4): 19. (Hebrew).
Maariv. (2023). “A new poll: 43% of Likud voters choose unity over the reform” https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-1023001 (accessed in August 2023) (Hebrew).
McClay, Wilfred M. (2001). “Two concepts of Secularization.” Journal of Policy History, 13, no.1: 47-72.
Miller, David. (1995). On Nationality. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Mudde, C. (2004). “The populist zeitgeist.” Government and opposition, 39(4), pp.541-563.
Mudde, C. (2007). Populist radical right parties in Europe (p. 234). Cambridge: Cambridge university press.
Müller, J.W. (2017). What is populism? Penguin UK.
Netanyahu, B. (2015). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2cUoglR1yk
Norris, Pippa and Inglehart, Ronald. (2004). Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pappas, T.S. (2019). Populism and liberal democracy: A comparative and theoretical analysis. Oxford University Press.
Peled Y. (1998). “Towards a Redefinition of Jewish Nationalism in Israel: The Enigma of Shas.” Ethnic and Racial Studies, 21: 703–27.
Ram, Uri. (2008). “Why Secularism Fails? Secular Nationalism and Religious Revivalism in Israel.” International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, 21: 57–73.
Raz-Krakotzkin, Amnon. (2000). “Rabin’s Legacy: On Secularism, Nationalism and Orientalism.” In: L. Grinberg (ed.), Contested Memory: Myth, Nationalism and Democracy. Beersheba: Humphrey Institutue, Ben-Gurion University.
Regev, M. (2015). “Interview.” Jerusalem Post, 20.6.2015.
Shikman, I. (2019). “Netanyahu: We are brothers, one nation, no other.” Ynet, 18.6.2019. Online: https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5527146,00.html (accessed on 29.11.2020)
Shilon A. (2007), Begin 1912–1992, Tel Aviv: Am Oved (Hebrew).
Taggart P. (2000). Populism, Buckingham: Open University Press
Tamir, Y. (1995). Liberal nationalism. (Vol. 47). Princeton University Press.
Yadgar, Yaakov. (2003). “Shas as A Struggle to Create a New Field: A Bourdiean Perspective of an Israeli Phenomenon.” Sociology of Religion, 64(2):223–246
Ynet (2019). “Netanyahu in Right-Wing Convention: ‘Minority Government – A Historical National Bombing’.” Ynet.17.11.2019. Online: https://www.calcalist.co.il/local/articles/0,7340,L-3773890,00.html (accessed on 26.5.2020).
Ynet (2023). “Estimations in the Likud.” https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rkmbg5rs2 (accessed in August 2023)
Ziv G. (2025). “Military Reservists and the Resistance to the Judiciary Overhaul.” Middle East Policy, 32: 33-50
Zohar, M. (2020). Facebook Post. Online: https://www.facebook.com/MKMikiZohar/photos/a.977905032227230/4480432698641095 [accessed on 29.11.2020)