Zionism and the "Roads Not Taken" (1880-1948) An Arab-Jewish binational state in Palestine was only one of the possible paths that the Zionist movement considered before taking the road that led to Israel’s 1948 establishment. Using various primary and secondary sources, we will critically engage with alternatives to the nation-state within the Zionist movement, unfolding key debates in its history. In the introductory units, we will position Zionism alongside other forms of Jewish nationalism, such as Simon Dubnow’s Diaspora Nationalism. We will then zoom in on post-World War I Zionism, discussing Imperial, anti-Imperial, pan-Asian, and binationalist-federalist alternatives to the Jewish nation-state program. In the concluding units, we will examine the processes by which these possibilities became marginalized, and the vision of a Jewish nation-state prevailed.

Intercultural Jerusalem (1850-Present) The course approaches the history of modern Jerusalem through the lens of intercultural encounters. Based on primary historical sources and secondary literature, we will examine how the relations between Muslims, Christians, and Jews transformed as the city changed hands between the Ottomans, British, Jordanians, and Israelis. The introductory units will discuss the making of multi-cultural Jerusalem in the late Ottoman period and how, under British rule (1917-1948), its cosmopolitanism was abated by nationalism. We will then discuss its partition following the 1948 War and the emergence of “West Jerusalem” and “East Jerusalem.” Proceeding past 1967, we will examine if and to what extent Jerusalem became an integrated, united city under Israel sovereignty before concluding with a discussion of contemporary trends.

The Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict When did the Jewish-Arab conflict begin? This survey course considers several different moments of its birth, such as the 1880s first wave of Zionist immigrants to Palestine, the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the 1948 and 1967 war and the 1964 establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and other landmark moments. Based on secondary literature and primary textual and visual materials, we will engage with these competing periodizations and analyze various Israeli and Palestinian historical narratives they embody, considering broader themes such as the relations between the historian’s identity and the production of historical narratives, and the dynamic between facts, narratives and ideologies.

Town & Gown: A History of Middlebury and Middlebury College This course offers an overview of the history of Middlebury College by focusing on its relationship with its surrounding town. We will follow the history of these relations from Middlebury's 1800 establishment as the "town's College" and through subsequent transformations during the 19th and 20th centuries. Based on academic literature and various primary sources (archival documents, oral histories, visual images and more), we will revisit significant encounters between students, faculty, administrators and townspeople, examining how they impacted the college's and town's development. In the second part of the class, we will work together in the archives on the students' research projects, which we will make accessible to the public. This course is part of the Public Humanities Labs Initiative administered by the Axinn Center for the Humanities./

Contemporary Israel: Society, Culture and Politics In this course we will examine Israeli society and politics in a period of rapid and profound transformation.  We begin with an introductory unit on Zionism, Palestinian nationalism and the history of the state. Subsequent units examine the social, cultural and political characteristics of Israel’s main population sectors (Middle Eastern, European, Russian and Ethiopian Jews and Palestinian citizens and residents of the state) and religious groupings (Muslims and Jews, including secular, traditional, national-religious and ultra-Orthodox). The final units examine intensifying political struggles that will shape the future of Israel and the region. Topics will include the role of religion in public life; civil rights, democracy and the courts; and West Bank settlements, occupation, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Adi Livny

Reviews and ratings for Adi Livny at Middlebury College.Adi Livny teaches Zionism and "Roads Not Taken, Intercultural Jerusalem, Zionism and 'Roads Not Taken' and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Adi Livny good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Adi provided a very entertaining class. She gave us multiple opportunities to pick projects that were interesting to us as well as made the class very engaging. Mostly lecture style, with presentations within the class. Manageable readings. 

The lectures discussed a period of Israel's history with a focus on the city of Jerusalem. There was a short reading before every class, and reading questions were routine. There were two map quizzes and a final project that were confusing and had little direction from the professor.

Professor Livny is fantastic. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the topic and translates that knowledge into engaging lectures and great discussion facilitation. The coursework is light, but she expects deep engagement with the content. If you want a timely, intellectually engaging, yet not overwhelming class, I highly recommend taking this course. 