UNH Speakers Bureau

Cornerstones of Peace: Jewish Identity Politics and Democratic Theory (Book Title)

 

Program Description:

Throughout the seventies, the idea of being “pro-Israel” was traditionally equated with support for the Israeli government and was central to an understanding of American Jewish identity. It was so central, argues Marla Brettschneider, that ever committed activists who took issue with such a monolithic stance were silenced by mainstream Jewish organizations. But during the 1980s, a change took place. An explosion of new Jewish groups intent on challenging the dominant definition of the pro-Israel attitude transformed an increasingly closed Jewish community into one more democratic and inclusive.


Speaker:

Marla Brettschneider

Marla Brettschneider is professor of political philosophy with a joint appointment in political science and women's studies at the University of New Hampshire. She is a democratic theorist, focusing on diversity issues broadly, and particularly areas of : feminist, queer, critical –race, class-based, and Jewish political theory and activism. Marla is a co-founder and coordinator of the UNH queer studies program and is the coordinator of the UNH women's studies program.

Other topics offered by Marla Brettschneider