Michael Keren

Keren's methodology yields insights into political and social theories . . . Politics and Literature at the Turn of the Millenium provides a clear introduction to contemporary literature-- suitable for undergraduates--with useful commentary on escapism, evil, compassion, and justice. --Allan Hepburn, University of Toronto Quarterly

Politics and Literature at the Turn of the Millennium

Richard Hawkins

Online discourse has created a new media environment for contributions to public life, one that challenges the social significance of the role of public intellectuals—intellectuals who, whether by choice or by circumstance, offer commentary on issues of the day. The value of such commentary is rooted in the assumption that, by virtue of their training and experience, intellectuals possess knowledge—that they understand what constitutes knowledge with respect to a particular topic, are able to distinguish it from mere opinion, and are in a position to define its relevance in different contexts. When intellectuals comment on matters of public concern, they are accordingly presumed to speak truth, whether they are writing books or op-ed columns or appearing as guests on radio and television news programs. At the same time, with increasing frequency, discourse on public life is taking place online. This new digital environment is characterized by abundance—an abundance of speakers, discussion, and access. But has this abundance of discourse—this democratization of knowledge, as some describe it—brought with it a corresponding increase in truth? Casting doubt on the assertion that online discourse, with its proliferation of voices, will somehow yield collective wisdom, Speaking Power to Truth raises concerns that this wealth of digitally enabled commentary is, in fact, too often bereft of the hallmarks of intellectual discourse: an epistemological framework and the provision of evidence to substantiate claims. Instead, the pursuit of truth finds itself in competition with the quest for public reputation, access to influence, and enhanced visibility. But as knowledge is drawn into the orbit of power, and as the line between knowledge and opinion is blurred, what role will the public intellectual play in the promotion and nurturing of democratic processes and goals? In exploring the implications of the digital transition, the contributors to Speaking Power to Truth provide both empirical evidence of, and philosophical reflection on, the current and future role of the public intellectual in a technologically mediated public sphere. Contributions by Barry Cooper, Jacob Foster, Karim-Ally Kassam, Boaz Miller, Liz Pirnie, and Eleanor Townsley.

Digital Discourse and the Public Intellectual

Speaking Power to Truth

Shlomit Keren

This book tells the little-known stories of Jewish soldiers who served in the Jewish Legions during World War I. Three all-Jewish battalions formed in the British army as part of the Allies' Middle East campaign, recruiting soldiers from the United States, Canada, England, and Argentina. Drawing on diaries, memoirs and letters, the book follows their journey at sea through unrestricted submarine warfare; by trains and trucks through Europe, Egypt, and Palestine; and their battlefield experiences. The authors show how these Yiddish-speaking young men forged a new kind of soldier identity with unique Jewish features, as well as an evolving sense of nationalism.

The Jewish Legions and the Promised Land in the First World War

We Are Coming, Unafraid

Zichroni v. State of Israel tells the story of Amnon Zichroni, the Israeli civil rights lawyer whose legal and political battles from the early 1950s to the present day reveal a hitherto unknown chapter in the history of Israel: the struggle for human and civil rights in the country and in the occupied territories. Michael Keren's compelling narrative explores the seminal court cases in which Zichroni challenged the definition of citizenship by nationalist criteria; opposed the construction of West Bank settlements; and defended freedom of the press, association, and religion. The work offers a vivid portrayal of one man's campaign for justice in an embattled nation struggling to balance security imperatives with the rule of law.

The Biography of a Civil Rights Lawyer

Zichroni V. State of Israel

This book details on the important segment of Jewish society, focusing on the role of intellectuals in the formation and growth of the state of Israel. It examines the relationship between Israeli intellectuals and their state as a case study.

Michael Keren

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