Eli Clifton & Ian Lustick: Israel's Lobby - America in the Grip of a Foreign Power

Yehezkel Dror's 'Crazy States' develops the notion that certain nation-states behave as relentlessly purposive actors whose goals and methods place them beyond conventional moral and diplomatic constraints. Dror argues that labeling states as 'crazy' highlights their willingness to use ruthless means in pursuit of ideological or existential objectives, thereby shaping foreign-policy responses to them. The book influenced strategic thinking by framing some adversaries as actors for whom standard deterrence and negotiation paradigms may be inadequate. Dror's analysis was aimed at justifying tougher stances toward such regimes, particularly in the Middle East, and has been referenced in later debates about state behavior and asymmetric threats. Over time critics and supporters have debated the concept’s ethical and practical implications for policymaking.

Ian S. Lustick and Eli Clifton's 'Israel's Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power' examines how a network of pro-Israel organizations, donors, and institutions shape U.S. foreign policy and domestic norms. The authors trace historical and recent case studies—such as lobbying around the Iraq War, opposition to the JCPOA, and influence over the Trump administration's Iran policy—to show how targeted money and institutional power override shifting public opinion. They argue this influence now threatens aspects of American democracy, including free speech and academic freedom. The book updates earlier scholarship on the Israel lobby by focusing on changes since Citizens United, the rise of mega-donors, and the lobby's rightward shift. It calls for public scrutiny of foreign-influenced policymaking while distinguishing legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy from antisemitism.