Book Review: Israel Under Netanyahu by Neta Oren
Neta Oren’s Israel Under Netanyahu offers a scholarly, data-driven reassessment of Benjamin Netanyahu’s long tenure as prime minister. Returning to power in 2009, Netanyahu has shaped Israeli politics in ways that resonate beyond the borders of the Jewish state. Oren, a political scientist, asks a deceptively simple question: has Israel’s political order eroded under Netanyahu’s rule, and if so, by what mechanisms? The answer she crafts is nuanced, rigorous, and timely, placing Israel within the broader discourse on populism and democratic backsliding while insisting that the specifics of Israel’s regime cannot be understood by imported labels alone.
Why a Missing Link in Comparative Populism Studies?
In the current wave of comparative literature on populism, Israel has often been treated as a marginal case or subsumed under broader regional narratives. Oren challenges this neglect by foregrounding the distinctive features of Israeli politics under Netanyahu: the recalibration of media power, the strategic use of legal reform to consolidate power, and the reframing of civil society as a contested arena rather than a counterweight. Her analysis demonstrates that populism is not a single script; it adapts to domestic institutions, public opinion, and the international arena. By tracing policy shifts, coalition-building, and constitutional maneuvering since 2009, she shows how a mature democracy can experience rolling backsliding without an immediate rupture, a pattern that holds important implications for scholars of democracy everywhere.
Key Themes and Findings
Oren’s narrative centers on several interlocking themes. First is the populist deployment of majority will—where electoral gains are translated into governance strategies that widen the space for executive action at the expense of usual checks and balances. Second is the reorientation of legal institutions. Netanyahu’s governments, according to Oren, have pursued reforms that test the independence of the judiciary and the limits of parliamentary oversight, prompting vigorous debates about the nature of democratic control in a constitutional system that features a strong, long-standing prime minister. Third, the book places emphasis on media and political communication. The intertwining of political necessity with media strategy has not only amplified messages favorable to Netanyahu’s governing project but has also polarized public discourse, complicating consensus-building in a deeply divided society.
Judicial Reform, Coalition Politics, and Civil Society
The emphasis on judicial reform is particularly salient. Oren dissects proposals and policy shifts that would alter the balance between branches of government, arguing that such moves are less about ideology and more about securing governing durability in a country with complex security concerns and a highly motivated political base. Her analysis of coalition politics reveals a strategy of broadening support across diverse factions, sometimes at the expense of minority protections and inclusive governance. Alongside this, civil society—once a robust constraint on executive overreach—receives careful attention. The book argues that the very political culture that sustains Israel’s democracy also makes it vulnerable to populist demobilization of dissent and critical journalism when majorities feel their values are under threat.
<h2 What the Book Adds to the Conversation
Oren’s work is a valuable contribution because it refuses to confine Israel’s experience within the standard categories of “populist” or “authoritarian.” Instead, she provides a granular, historical account of policy decisions, institutional reform attempts, and public rhetoric that illuminate how democratic backsliding can occur through procedural changes rather than outright coups. For readers and scholars looking to understand the global drift toward executive consolidation, this book offers a precise case study with methodological rigor and clear policy implications.
<h2 Final Thoughts
Israel Under Netanyahu is essential reading for students of political science, Middle East studies, and comparative democracy. It demands careful attention to how democracies evolve under strong leaders and why the line between robust governance and democratic erosion can be perilously thin. Neta Oren has produced a thoughtful, empirically grounded analysis that will inform debates about populism’s reach and the resilience of democratic institutions in Israel and beyond.
