ACADEMIC Research
"Godliness and Government: Individual and Institutional Connections Between Religiosity and Citizenship in Politics and Religion" in Politics and Religion (VOLUME 12, ISSUE 4) By Catherine Bolzendhal, Landon Schnabel, and Rottem Sagi
We conduct a multilevel examination of the relationship between religiosity and democratic citizenship norms and behaviors using International Social Survey Program data. We analyze how democratic engagement varies according to individual and national average religious involvement in 28 predominantly-Christian democracies. We find that (1) individual-level religious attendance is positively linked to both what people say (norms) and what they do (participation); (2) nations with higher aggregate national attendance participate less politically; and (3) the relationship between individual-level religious engagement and citizenship varies by national religious context. More specifically, individual religious attendance matters more where it is more distinctive (i.e., in more secular countries). Individual-level religious participation is generally conducive to citizenship, but its impact is context-dependent.
We conduct a multilevel examination of the relationship between religiosity and democratic citizenship norms and behaviors using International Social Survey Program data. We analyze how democratic engagement varies according to individual and national average religious involvement in 28 predominantly-Christian democracies. We find that (1) individual-level religious attendance is positively linked to both what people say (norms) and what they do (participation); (2) nations with higher aggregate national attendance participate less politically; and (3) the relationship between individual-level religious engagement and citizenship varies by national religious context. More specifically, individual religious attendance matters more where it is more distinctive (i.e., in more secular countries). Individual-level religious participation is generally conducive to citizenship, but its impact is context-dependent.
"Zionist Movement" and "Israeli Social Movements" in The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements By Rottem Sagi
These two encyclopedia entries provide a brief introduction and overview of the Zionist Movement and Israeli Social Movements.
These two encyclopedia entries provide a brief introduction and overview of the Zionist Movement and Israeli Social Movements.
"Diverse Coalitions: Reconciling Disparate Ideologies and Incongruent Collective Identities" in Mobilizing Ideas By Rottem Sagi
In this blog post, I discuss how unlike alliances are formed. I build on previous research by exploring how American Jews and Evangelical Christians set aside their differences and work together in support of Israel.
In this blog post, I discuss how unlike alliances are formed. I build on previous research by exploring how American Jews and Evangelical Christians set aside their differences and work together in support of Israel.
"Rhetoric and Reality: The Role of Family Issues in Politician and Party Support" in Journal of Family Issues By Rottem Sagi and Catherine Bolzendahl
Despite evidence of the political salience of family issues, little work has been done to understand how Americans link family issues to their support of various parties and politicians. This study examines whether respondents think party/politician views on family issues are important and asks respondents to provide examples of relevant family issues. Using data from the 2003 Constructing the Family telephone survey conducted at the Indiana University Center for Survey Research, we find that most respondents claim that a party’s/politician’s views on family issues are important to them. Further analysis reveals that, among people who believe family issues are important, the belief is explained differently, with the sample split between a focus on the characteristics of policymakers as compared to the policy itself. The authors conclude that these differing approaches to family issues may stem from the patchwork system of legislation for families in the United States.
Despite evidence of the political salience of family issues, little work has been done to understand how Americans link family issues to their support of various parties and politicians. This study examines whether respondents think party/politician views on family issues are important and asks respondents to provide examples of relevant family issues. Using data from the 2003 Constructing the Family telephone survey conducted at the Indiana University Center for Survey Research, we find that most respondents claim that a party’s/politician’s views on family issues are important to them. Further analysis reveals that, among people who believe family issues are important, the belief is explained differently, with the sample split between a focus on the characteristics of policymakers as compared to the policy itself. The authors conclude that these differing approaches to family issues may stem from the patchwork system of legislation for families in the United States.
"Who's in My Bed: Strange Bedfellows in the American Pro-Israel Movement"
DISSERTATION By Rottem Sagi
Political change to solve pressing social problems is seldom achieved alone. Coalitions are important for changing national policy to address pervasive social problems. Broad coalitions composed of diverse allies unified around a single issue are more likely to affect political change in order to solve pressing social problems. Diverse coalitions are especially advantageous because they can improve the range of and access to resources, increase the visibility of a movement, legitimate grievances, and increase the political influence of member groups. Joining together and pooling resources, through a formal alliance, can improve a movement's visibility and increase the chances of affecting political change. On the other hand, joining a coalition can be risky for individual organizations. Coalitions consume resources, can compromise a particular group's identity, and could damage pre-existing relationships with other groups or individuals. Disputes between member groups over strategy, ideology, and tactics often fragment potentially influential coalition. During a time when congress is increasingly less productive and affecting political change seems futile, it is important to understand how groups can mobilize support in order to solve pressing social problems. My dissertation explores how diverse coalitions overcome numerous barriers in order to form and maintain contentious alliances despite tremendous ideological differences.
DISSERTATION By Rottem Sagi
Political change to solve pressing social problems is seldom achieved alone. Coalitions are important for changing national policy to address pervasive social problems. Broad coalitions composed of diverse allies unified around a single issue are more likely to affect political change in order to solve pressing social problems. Diverse coalitions are especially advantageous because they can improve the range of and access to resources, increase the visibility of a movement, legitimate grievances, and increase the political influence of member groups. Joining together and pooling resources, through a formal alliance, can improve a movement's visibility and increase the chances of affecting political change. On the other hand, joining a coalition can be risky for individual organizations. Coalitions consume resources, can compromise a particular group's identity, and could damage pre-existing relationships with other groups or individuals. Disputes between member groups over strategy, ideology, and tactics often fragment potentially influential coalition. During a time when congress is increasingly less productive and affecting political change seems futile, it is important to understand how groups can mobilize support in order to solve pressing social problems. My dissertation explores how diverse coalitions overcome numerous barriers in order to form and maintain contentious alliances despite tremendous ideological differences.
"The Accretion and Dispersion of Issues in Social Movement Coalitions" By David Meyer, Amanda Pullum, and Rottem Sagi
Social movement coalitions link groups and individuals with different goals and analyses together in the service of expedient goals. But those coalitions strain or strengthen over time, in response to exogenous and internal provocations and pressures. To examine the diversity within movements over time, we look at two social movement coalitions along two dimensions (among national groups and between a national organization and local affiliates). By assessing the expressed goals of Tea Party and Peace Movement groups at three distinct time periods, we can see how groups within a coalition diversify, accreting goals and issues, over time. We note that national groups diversify more slowly than local groups, and offer explanations of how and why. Our analysis exposes the diversity within social movements, and demonstrates the necessity of looking beneath the unifying label to see the real action within a movement.
Social movement coalitions link groups and individuals with different goals and analyses together in the service of expedient goals. But those coalitions strain or strengthen over time, in response to exogenous and internal provocations and pressures. To examine the diversity within movements over time, we look at two social movement coalitions along two dimensions (among national groups and between a national organization and local affiliates). By assessing the expressed goals of Tea Party and Peace Movement groups at three distinct time periods, we can see how groups within a coalition diversify, accreting goals and issues, over time. We note that national groups diversify more slowly than local groups, and offer explanations of how and why. Our analysis exposes the diversity within social movements, and demonstrates the necessity of looking beneath the unifying label to see the real action within a movement.
"A Social Movements Approach to Understanding American and Canadian Support for Israel" Masters Thesis By Rottem Sagi
Scholars from political science, international relations and Jewish studies are interested in the American pro-Israel advocacy groups' influence over U.S. foreign policy. A comparison of foreign policy suggests that the U.S. has a much more favorable relationship with Israel than Canada. The social movements literature provides relevant theoretical perspectives for understanding these cross-national differences. Using this perspective, I compared pro-Israel advocacy in the U.S. and Canada to understand cross-national differences in support for Israel. In addition to multiple sources of archival data, I coded 968 organizations listed in the American Jewish Yearbook's directory of organizations over a 50 year time period in order to map the socio-organizational landscape of these two Jewish communities. Both American and Canadian Jews seek national support for Israel. Aspects of the political context and available resources of these two communities can be linked to differences in national foreign policy toward Israel. While the Canadian government is more insulated against the demands of interest groups, the American government provides more opportunities for groups like the American Israel lobby to influence policy. Using a social movement’s perspective, I highlight several cross-national differences that aid the American pro-Israel movements' efforts to affect foreign policy.
Scholars from political science, international relations and Jewish studies are interested in the American pro-Israel advocacy groups' influence over U.S. foreign policy. A comparison of foreign policy suggests that the U.S. has a much more favorable relationship with Israel than Canada. The social movements literature provides relevant theoretical perspectives for understanding these cross-national differences. Using this perspective, I compared pro-Israel advocacy in the U.S. and Canada to understand cross-national differences in support for Israel. In addition to multiple sources of archival data, I coded 968 organizations listed in the American Jewish Yearbook's directory of organizations over a 50 year time period in order to map the socio-organizational landscape of these two Jewish communities. Both American and Canadian Jews seek national support for Israel. Aspects of the political context and available resources of these two communities can be linked to differences in national foreign policy toward Israel. While the Canadian government is more insulated against the demands of interest groups, the American government provides more opportunities for groups like the American Israel lobby to influence policy. Using a social movement’s perspective, I highlight several cross-national differences that aid the American pro-Israel movements' efforts to affect foreign policy.