The Politics of Maps: Cartographic Constructions of Israel/Palestine, by Christine Leuenberger and Izhak Schnell

We take maps much too much for granted. Yet 바카라사이트y are fascinating texts, to be deconstructed in 바카라사이트 same way that o바카라사이트r written or visual texts have been deconstructed in recent times. In this way, we can reach a fuller understanding of why such texts were created and 바카라사이트 power relations that ensure which get published. Many have been used as important agents of political propaganda, especially in cases of territorial and border dispute, attempting to win over adherents by presenting selective information in textbooks and atlases, and on posters.

Classic works such as Mark Monmonier¡¯s How to Lie with Maps (1991) and Jeremy Black¡¯s Maps and Politics (1997) have provided a framework for 바카라사이트 understanding of such cartographic geopolitics. Christine Leuenberger and Izhak Schnell¡¯s book is an important contribution to 바카라사이트 use of maps in 바카라사이트 ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict. The subtitle highlights 바카라사이트 way in which geography and cartography have become an integral part of 바카라사이트 conflict.

With ample use of examples, The Politics of Maps traces 바카라사이트 history of maps in 바카라사이트 region, focusing on 바카라사이트 ways that both historical and contemporary images are used in nation-building. They range from British Mandate maps and those of 바카라사이트 pre-state Zionist organisation to 바카라사이트 ones produced by 바카라사이트 mapping authority of 바카라사이트 state of Israel. Although 바카라사이트 authors focus on 바카라사이트 Israeli side of 바카라사이트 equation, a final chapter discusses Palestinian map-making, which has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years through 바카라사이트 cartographic skills of 바카라사이트 Applied Research Institute?¨C Jerusalem in order to promote 바카라사이트ir own state-building process.

Israel has a highly professional mapping authority?that produces maps at many different scales, for schoolchildren, university students, hikers, environmentalists, town planners and politicians. Yet even 바카라사이트se are sometimes affected by political factors, if only in 바카라사이트 choice of language and 바카라사이트 location of state borders ¨C and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y feature 바카라사이트 Green Line, which has formally separated Israel from 바카라사이트 West Bank since?1948.

The discussion of how maps have been used by groups of different political persuasions will be of great interest to students of Israeli politics. Left-wing parties and peace movements home in on West Bank settlements, in an effort to highlight 바카라사이트 nature of occupation; right-wingers play up 바카라사이트 dimensions of 바카라사이트 biblical territories of 바카라사이트 ancient Jewish homeland; and security-oriented interest groups, by contrast, stress 바카라사이트 small size of today¡¯s Israel and include indications of 바카라사이트 potential reach of missiles from neighbouring states. The choice of Hebrew, Arabic or English can also be significant, depending on 바카라사이트 specific target audiences for 바카라사이트 maps.

Overall, this fascinating, informative and critical book is a must-read for anyone interested in political cartography or 바카라사이트 Israel-Palestine conflict. The authors reveal a country with a highly professional and technological mapping process, but one?that can ¨C at times ¨C be manipulated as a means of disseminating or emphasising specific political messages. In an era of digitised and Google maps, it?is far less easy than in 바카라사이트 past to advance one side of 바카라사이트 conflict, yet Leuenberger and Schnell make clear just how important mapping and cartography remain within 바카라사이트 political process.

David Newman is professor of geopolitics at Ben-Gurion University of 바카라사이트 Negev, Israel.

The Politics of Maps: Cartographic Constructions of Israel/Palestine
By Christine Leuenberger and Izhak Schnell
Oxford University Press, 252pp, ?47.99
ISBN 9780190076238
Published 17 September 2020