Political Ideals
Dubnow was ambivalent toward Zionism, and he rejected assimilation. He believed that the future survival of the Jews as a nation depended on their spiritual and cultural strength, where they resided dispersed in the diaspora. Dubnow writes: "Jewish history the conviction that Jewry at all times, even in the period of political independence, was pre-eminently a spiritual nation."
His formulated ideology became known as Jewish Autonomism, once widely popular in eastern Europe, being adopted in its various derivations by Jewish political parties such as the Bund and his Folkspartei. Autonomism involved a form of self-rule in the Jewish diaspora, which Dubnow called "the Jewish world-nation". The Treaty of Versailles (1919) adopted a version of it in the minority provisions of treaties signed with new east European states. Yet in early 20th-century Europe, many political currents began to trend against polities that accommodated a multiethnic pluralism, as grim monolithic nationalism or ideology emerged as centralizing principles. After the Holocaust, and the founding of Israel, for awhile discussion of Autonomism seemed absent from Jewish politics.
Read more about this topic: Simon Dubnow
Famous quotes containing the words political and/or ideals:
“It has been years since I have seen anyone who could even look as if he were in love. No one’s face lights up any more except for political conversation.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)
“We want our children to become warm, decent human beings who reach out generously to those in need. We hope they find values and ideals to give their lives purpose so they contribute to the world and make it a better place because they have lived in it. Intelligence, success, and high achievement are worthy goals, but they mean nothing if our children are not basically kind and loving people.”
—Neil Kurshan (20th century)