Judicial Overhaul in Civic Education (Civics): Democracy, Constitution and Institutions in Israel

In recent decades, Western countries have witnessed democratic backsliding, often manifested in questioning the power and role of the judiciary. Additionally, the trend of judicial activism has prompted calls for restraint, seeking to return the Court's role to its historical status. Israel, too, has displayed elements of democratic backsliding alongside increased judicial activism. Moreover, the year 2023 has been characterized by a contentious public debate on the judiciary's status, fueled by the government's reform plan to limit its power. This dispute has divided Israeli society, with accusations of undermining democracy hurled from both sides. Given the importance placed on civic education (civics) in Israel, one might expect a profound and consensus-driven understanding of democracy and its institutions, especially the judiciary, among the adult population. However, this expectation remains unrealized, pointing to a profound problem in the educational process. This article qualitatively examines key themes, namely, democracy, constitution, and institutions, in the teaching materials of civics, alongside the issues that appear in the planned reform. The analysis reveals deep differences between the textbooks regarding the perceptions of these themes and suggests that this 'schizophrenia' reflects and fuels the debate around democracy 'schizophrenia' in Israeli society.