New Books Network

Orit Rozin, "Emotions of Conflict, Israel 1949-1967" (Oxford UP, 2024)

Apr 7, 2025

Orit Rozin, an Associate Professor of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University, discusses her book, which delves into the emotional landscape of Israel from 1949 to 1967. She reveals how political leaders shaped citizens' emotions to foster resilience during conflict. Rozin examines the complexities of individual emotional resistance amid enforced responses and reflects on the recent implications of these dynamics in light of the October 7th attacks. The conversation highlights the intricate relationship between emotions, identity, and policy-making in Israeli history.

01:09:34

Episode guests

Orit Rozin

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Quick takeaways

Emotional regimes established by leaders influenced Israeli citizens' responses to security threats, cultivating resilience while managing fear and instability.

The period from 1949 to 1967 showcased how emotional fluctuations shaped national identity and collective behavior amidst ongoing conflict and military preparedness.

Deep dives

The Concept of Emotional Regime

Emotional regimes play a significant role in shaping societal perspectives and responses, particularly in relation to security concerns. They are frameworks developed by policymakers and cultural leaders to cultivate specific emotional responses among the populace. For instance, during times of tension, leaders actively encourage a resilience-based emotional state instead of fear, guiding citizens to feel vigilant but not terrified. This management of emotions is crucial as it not only influences public reactions but also affects social cohesion within the community.

Intro

4min

Emotional Regimes in Israeli History (1949-1967)

28min

Resisting Emotional Instillation in Conflict

2min

Emotional Governance in Early Israel

14min

Reflections on October 7th: Emotions and Conflict

9min

Examining Legacy and Ethics of Reprisal Policies

3min

Understanding Emotional Norms and Political Constructs

4min

Israel’s citizens have had to cope with the emotional challenges of the threats their country has faced during its first two decades. Emotions of Conflict, Israel 1949-1967 (Oxford UP, 2024) unpacks the history of citizens’ emotions—an analysis of the reports about how they felt and of the emotional regime—the emotional repertoire designed by political leaders and cultural agents wishing to mold the feelings of Israeli citizens. The perspective of the history of emotions leads to hitherto untapped and nuanced insights about the weaknesses and strengths of Israelis, and reveals new connections between identity, morality, state-sanctioned violence, politics, and law, along with a new understanding of the motivations behind policy makers’ decisions.

Orit Rozin is Associate Professor in the Department of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University.

Eva Gurevich, PhD, is a Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow at Brandeis University. Her dissertation was titled, “Reconstituting Israel: The Impact of the Six-Day War on Political Thought in the Land of Israel Movement (Hatenuah Lemaan Eretz Yisrael Hashlemah)."

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