Israel Studies in France
Résumé
The aim of this article is to analyze how Israel Studies emerged progressively in France as a field of research, which became partly institutionalized, although not as strongly as in other European countries. We will focus on research undertaken in France in the social sciences, leaving aside books and articles written by French-speaking colleagues who did not pursue their academic career in French universities. This article will first present the role played by the pioneers of studies on Israel in the 1960s–1980s, then it will describe how, beginning in the 1990s, Israel Studies constituted itself around five main themes: a) Conflict, security and peace movements; b) Democracy; c) Spatial approach; d) Migrations; e) Culture. We will conclude by presenting the strengths and weaknesses of Israel Studies in France.
