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The socio economic system developed by Canadian National institutes played a major role in shaping the agricultural settlements of western Canada between 1870-1914. The relationship between Canadian institutes and those formed by immigrants was responsible for the stability of immigrant rural community. Researchers have extensively analyzed the mechanism of land selection and fight against environmental destitution. The settlements of five socio economic institutions in western Canada during 1914 are discussed.

Mormons and Jews established agricultural settlements in western Canada around the turn of the century. Mormon colonization was generally successful, characterized by its great stability. Abandonment of the land by Mormon communities was rare. In contrast, almost all the Jewish settlements failed. Settlers abandoned their land and retreated to the urban centres of the West. A comparative analysis of the two groups suggests that this difference in agricultural stability may not have been a reflection of prior experience, nor was it necessarily attributable to vagaries of the physical environment. Social structures, religious demands, and institutional backing, along with the geographical concentration and interconnectivity of settlements were critical elements in determining success or failure in agriculture colonization. C'est au debut du siecle que les mormons et les Juifs etablirent dans l'Ouest canadien leurs colonies agricoles. La colonisation des Mormons, caracterisee par sa grande stabilite, reussit dans l'ensemble; rares furent les colonies qu'ils abandonnerent. Par contre, presque toutes les colonies juives echouerent; abandonnant leurs terres, les colons se retirement dans les centres urbains de l'Ouest. Une analyse comparative des deux groupes permet de conclure que leur stabilite agricole relative ne fut pas necessairement fonction de leur experience prealable en agriculture; elle ne fut pas non plus attribuable aux seules contraintes geographiques et climatiques. Les structures sociales, les exigences religieuses, l'appui de leurs etablissements en plus de la proximite d'autres colonies et leurs interrelations, tous ces facteurs s'avererent cruicaux pour determiner la reussite ou l'echec de la colonisation agricole.

The paper presents a historical and quatitative analysis of agricultural land transactions between Jews (buyers) and Arabs (sellers) in Patestine at the beginning of the century. Based on data relating to 104 plots (drawm from the archives of the Jewish settlement associations and organizations) and using the hedonic prices approach, it is found that site, relative location, and period of sale explain two-thirds of the variance in price. In addition, the nature of ownership, location in proximity to lands under Jewish ownership, and geopolitical region have substantial effects as well. The last factor is particularly interesting as it relates to nationalistic considerations of land redemption and preparation of a base for a national homeland.

For a number of reasons, a vast increase in scholarly research concerning the history of the Land of Israel during the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth [...]

The following concept paper was prepared by the Joint Working Group on Israeli-Palestinian Relations and edited by Herbert C. Kelman at the Program on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Weatherhead [...]

This 'concept paper' by Joseph Alpher and Khalil Shikaki, was written with the participation of the following members of the Joint Working Group on Israeli-Palestinian Relations: Gabriel Ben-Dor, Ibrahim Dakkak, [...]

The article discusses the relationship between secular and religious Zionists in the early 19th century Yishuv Jewish settlements in Palestine, focusing on the public observance of the sabbath. Topics discussed include negotiations over the practice of Jewish law, the observance of the sabbath in settlements which leased land from the Jewish National Fund (JNF), and the role of observance in leasing contracts between JNF and the settlements.