A Research On Herzl And His Political Zionism

Herzl was the one who set up Zionism. In the end of the 19^th century, the movement of political Zionism, as a token of national awareness, found its great resonance among Jews all over the world. Led by Herzl, this movement was constantly spread. In the meantime, nearly ten years' diplomatic practice of Herzl did not only win international reputation and influence for Zionism, but it paved the way for, and supplied experience for, the development of Zionism. Moreover, Herzl's contribution towards the internal construction of Zionism was innovative. Based on these facts, political Zionism played an important role in the process of establishing Israel as a leading power of the rebuilding of Jewish State.As one of the most significant figures in Jewish history, Herzl has always been greatly considered in the mind and respect of Jewish people. It remains a meaningful discussion on Jewish history and Zionist history to research on the thinking and practice of Zionism.This dissertation is divided into six parts to introduce the thinking and practice of Herzl's Zionism.The first chapter lays stress on two points—first, how the family education with dim traditional thinking influenced Herzl's growth, and even his life after he chose Zionism. Second, how Herzl, a Jew who always believed that assimilation was the solution for Jewish problems, turned into the leader of political Zionism out of a Doctor of Laws, dramatist and journalist. This question has not so far been illustrated clearly and exactly in domestic research on Jewish history.The second chapter discusses the thinking of Herzl's Zionism based mainly on his works The Jewish State and The Old New Land. To study his works, it is not only concerned with how much the works are accepted in the world; it is more concerned with the analysis on Herzl's personal thoughts out of his works, their source and development, and also the principles and ways to guide Zionist movements rooted from these thoughts.The third chapter looks into the initial practice of Herzl's cause of Zionism and discusses his activities to propagandize his Zionist thoughts in other Jewish class, including the failure of his first effort to negotiate with Jewish financiers and his constant persuasion of the Neue Freie Presse. This did not receive enough attention in researches before. The propaganda among other Jewish estates influenced the earliest followers of him and afterwards became part of the foundation of Zionist organization's construction and development.The fourth chapter is focused on Herzl's diplomatic practices. Herzl's negotiation with Turkish government, Kaizer and English government are activities of more significance, which made known abroad the development of Zionism and also roused the morale and firmed the confident in the movement. In the meantime, as to the activities usually downplayed in previous research findings, such as those in Austria and Italia, this thesis will attempt to distinguish and at the same time give an overall view of Herzl's external practices. Although Herzl did not obtain substantial achievement in the external practices, his insistence reinforced the determination and courage of Jewish people to re-establish their country, increasingly drew attention from the world on this issue and consequently laid a foundation for an opportunity for the re-establishment.The fifth chapter lists Herzl's significant contributions on the internal construction of Zionist organization. It was due to its own organizing and leading core that political Zionism led by Herzl was distinct from the previous Zionism. It formed integrity in Zionist activities, created a new vista of new Zionism, and put Zionism in a special status in its history. The Zionist congresses presided by Herzl and the setup of Jewish Colonial Trus and the Jewish Colonial Bank financially boosted the development of Zionism and made the movement practical. However, there are still plenty of details of Herzl's efforts in constructing the organization ignored so far and even there are many mistaken thinkings and leftovers. And these become what this thesis will mainly discuss about.The sixth chapter will use contrasts to highlight the characteristics of Herzl's Zionist thoughts and his status in Zionist history.The conclusion summarizes some of the significant issues in Herzl's Zionist thoughts and outlines their features and influence. Meanwhile, this thesis combines the setup and development of his political Zionism with Palestine-Israeli conflicts, reveals their relation, gives a practical meaning to the theme of the thesis and shows an objective valuation of Herzl and his Zionism.