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This article examines the decline in government stability in Israel since the late 1990s, attributing it to factors such as societal diversity leading to numerous sectoral parties, cultural shifts towards utilitarianism affecting voting behavior, and the ease of dissolving the Knesset. These factors have hindered the formation of a robust government capable of long-term policymaking, resulting in politicians prioritizing personal survival over public interests, thereby exacerbating instability.
Israel’s political landscape has been tumultuous since 2018, marked by five consecutive elections failing to establish a stable coalition. This crisis stems from the country’s societal diversity, weakening major parties and fostering numerous fractional ones, complicating coalition-building. The resulting narrow coalitions grant excessive power to minor parties, exacerbating instability. Even governments with weak mandates collapse quickly, as seen in June 2022, necessitating frequent elections. Israel’s governance has relied on narrow coalition majorities since the late 1990s, empowering individual legislators and compromising stability.
The electoral system, based on proportional representation with a single electoral district, exacerbates fragmentation, hindering majority governments and perpetuating political disorder. Despite attempts at reform in 1992, reverting to the previous system highlighted limitations in representation. Criticism targets the system’s bias towards certain groups, like the ultra-Orthodox, while marginalizing others, such as women and Arabs. Moreover, geographical disparities persist due to the lack of regional representation.
Government instability impedes effective policymaking, hindering long-term solutions to societal issues like housing and transportation. Bureaucratic hurdles and political instability hamper project implementation. Cultural shifts, influenced by globalization, prioritize narrow interests over public welfare, fostering political personalization and exacerbating societal polarization. Accusations of corruption against Prime Minister Netanyahu have further divided society and eroded governmental legitimacy.
The ease of parliamentary dissolution exacerbates instability, with multiple mechanisms allowing for early elections. Unlike other democracies, Israel grants considerable power to both the prime minister and parliament for dissolution. This contributes to frequent government turnover and shortened terms, undermining governance stability. Addressing these factors is essential for stabilizing Israel’s political system and fostering effective governance.
This chapter explores the repercussions of government instability in Israel on its legitimacy and proposes ways to enhance governance by reducing political fragmentation. The political instability in Israel undermines the legitimacy of long-term policy implementation efforts, hindering economic performance. Decision-makers may prioritize short-term interests over societal welfare, leading to suboptimal policies. The coalition-based governance structure fosters narrow interests, promoting short-sighted strategies and frequent elections. Many Israeli politicians prioritize immediate gains to showcase achievements for re-election. While not all politicians adhere to this outlook, it is prevalent. Studies show a complex relationship between political stability and government legitimacy, influenced by policy implementation. Strengthening governance through reduced political fragmentation is proposed. This could involve revising the electoral system to limit party proliferation and raise entry thresholds. However, this may compromise representativeness, curtailing diverse societal interests. Research explores various models of political representativeness in democratic regimes, considering both the efficacy of the political system and the inclusion of diverse societal groups. Some advocate for expanding citizen involvement in decision-making processes to ensure broader representation.
Examination of Israel’s government stability from its inception in 1949 until 1996 reveals a period of significant parliamentary stability, with most Knesset terms completed, albeit with a large number of parties participating in elections. However, since the late 1990s, stability has declined, evidenced by shorter average term lengths, increased party participation, and decreased seats for mainstream parties. Despite this, the number of parties entering the Knesset remained relatively stable due to changes in electoral thresholds and cultural shifts favoring sectoral parties. This erosion of stability has led to a focus on short-term political survival over long-term public interests, with increased influence from lobbyists.
This study highlights the importance of adapting electoral systems to changing demographics and societal values to maintain government stability in democracies. Policy recommendations include implementing stricter terms for Knesset dissolution, preventing dissolution during government formation, and ensuring budget passage is not grounds for dissolution. These changes aim to align Israel’s parliamentary practices with those of other democracies, enhancing stability and public trust in government.
Several factors contribute to instability in Israeli politics, including failed electoral reforms, societal heterogeneity, cultural shifts towards self-interest, corruption allegations against leaders, and the ease of Knesset dissolution. These factors encourage short-term policy-making and undermine public trust.
The research findings provide insights into factors influencing government stability in diverse democracies, particularly those with heterogeneous populations like Israel. Policymakers can use this understanding to propose changes favoring governability over representativeness, such as altering government or electoral systems. Further comparative research is suggested to quantify the impact of various factors on government stability across different democracies.
Source:
Erez Cohen (2024) Political instability in Israel over the last decades – Causes and consequences, Cogent Social Sciences, 10:1, DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2023.2293316