Authority and Participation in a New Democracy focuses on the changes undergone by Mapai, Israel{u2019}s first ruling party, during Israel{u2019}s first years of independence, then analyzes the effects of these changes in relation to Israeli political culture. Bareli{u2019}s main claim is that it was only during this period that a hierarchically-organized group of leaders succeeded in imposing its dominance, fostering obedience within the party and creating oligarchic characteristics in Israel{u2019}s democracy. The influence of the kibbutz movement, the moshavim movement and of urban intelligentsia{u2014} who represented the opposite political view of participatory democracy{u2014}was reduced to a minimum. This process would have a profound impact on issues of equality, on the relations between veteran Israelis and immigrants from both European and Islamic countries, and on social and civic norms.--Provided by publisher.

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