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/// THE RUBINSTEIN CENTER PRESENTS: THE CHALLENGES OF DEMOCRACY SHORT BOOK SERIES
In an era of unprecedented crisis at home and abroad, the Rubinstein Center for Constitutional Challenges is introducing the groundbreaking The Challenges of Democracy short book series, issued with leading publishing house Kinneret Zmora Dvir. This initiative addresses the most pressing constitutional, legal, and societal dilemmas facing Israel and the world, aiming to make expert knowledge accessible to citizens, educators, and policymakers.
The series, edited by Dr. Tomer Persico, has debuted with three volumes that have already garnered widespread attention: “Liberalism: Roots, Principles, and Crises” by Dr. Persico, concisely explores liberalism’s historical foundations, current challenges, and paths for revival in a fractured world. Author and public figure Nadav Eyal, has praised it as “A significant and illuminating work”.
“A Guide to Public Inquiries” by Prof. Avigdor Klagsbald, Chairman of the Rubinstein Center, serves as a practical manual for navigating public accountability in democratic systems, so much so that journalist Kalman Libeskind has called it “...a meticulous and indispensable resource.”
“Religion and State in Israel: Past and Future Challenges” by Prof. Gideon Sapir, just published, delves into one of the most central tensions in the State of Israel: religion and state relations.
Future volumes will tackle some of the most pressing topics in democracy and governance, authored by renowned scholars and public intellectuals, such as: Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Prof. Aharon Barak on the concept of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; former Supreme Court Justice Prof. Yitzhak Zamir on the rule of law in Israel in the face of threats to democracy; Prof. Yaniv Roznai and Dr. Noam Gidron on populism, polarization, and democratic backsliding; Prof. Liav Orgad and Oren Nahari on the reasons behind the global crisis of democracy; and Prof. Eva Illouz on the moral failures of the Radical Left.
Another groundbreaking initiative of the Rubinstein Center is Kotz, a bold and thoughtprovoking interdisciplinary e-journal that examines contemporary democratic challenges, Israeli identity, and cultural discourse. This unique collaboration between the Rubinstein Center and the Visual Communication Department at Bezalel Academy of Arts is redefining how society engages with critical issues.
Each issue of Kotz focuses on a single theme and offers a platform for dialogue between academia, art, and the public. The topics discussed, such as censorship, fake news, leadership, boundaries, and provocation, stimulate thought and provide new insights into the tension between democracy and culture in the modern era while exploring the deep forces shaping Israeli society.
