A Mathematical Presentation of Israel's Political Parties

N A N A RT I C L E on Jinghpaw Kinship Terminology2 Dr. Edmund Leach has derived mathematically a system of kinship terminology such . , as actually exists in Kachin society. Dr. Leach posits seven structural rules (relating to descent, forms of marriage, and local communi-ty organization) and assumes that the terminology is the simplest possible which makes the distinctions required by these structural rules. The method is exciting and illuminating because it introduces that rarely-found eIement of necessity, much sought in the pseudo-sciences of society. This short paper will discuss a similar method in the analysis of Israeli political parties. The basic proposition is that there are five major issues at the present time in Israeli political life. Each of these issues distinguishes two or more political parties from others. Issue I. While Israel is a state characterized by the high degree of public control over economic life there are those who advocate a greater scope for private enterprise (hereafter indicated by (A)). The other parties are selfconsciously (with one exception) socialist (B). Issue 2. Israel is at war with six neighbouring Arab states. For eight years, except for the last two months of I956, there has been an uneasy truce along Israel's 600-mile frontier. There are those parties which advocate an 'activist' policy against the Arabs (C), involving a renewal of hostilities. The other parties, while never openly admitting their acceptance of the present boundaries, advocate restraint and moderation (D). Issue 3. Ancient Israel was at times a theocratic state; certainly religious administration of law has always been a feature of Jewish society. There are those parties which advocate a social organization based on the Torah (E). Since Israel lacks the usual prerequisite of nationhood, namely cultural homogeneity, except in its common religion, the other parties are unlikely to attack religion. They would however undoubtedly condemn further encroachments of the religious on the secular, and many would be glad to see the religious sphere diminished (F). Issue 4. There are those parties whose sympathies in world aSairs lie with the Soviet Union (G). The others vary from self-conscious alignment with the Western bloc to consonance with Western forms of dictatorship (H). Issue 5. While in a state whose very existence represents the realization of Zionism one would expect most political parties to be Zionist (I), there are some which are not (J). In a political system where representation is proportional, it would be 263