"Why does Zionism continue to arouse such passion around the world? Zionism is hotly debated, but much of its history is unfamiliar to both advocates and opponents. Throughout that history, people who have called themselves Zionists have espoused a wide variety of ideas, programmes, and aims. Abrupt changes in global historical circumstances over the course of the twentieth century generated radical shifts in Zionist goals and tactics, along with intense arguments about what being a Zionist actually entailed. Nevertheless, Zionists managed to overcome both the obstacles of external opposition and their own internal disunity to help the State of Israel secure its independence in 1948." "Avoiding polemics, this book gives readers a clear understanding of why the Zionist movement came into being, how it achieved what it did, and what role it continues to play in the life of contemporary Jews, the State of Israel, and the effort to bring peace to the Middle East."--Jacket.