Nation ohne Territorium

From the angle of the Eastern European Jewry the book opens the view toward the question of how to organize a people other than in a nation state. It follows the political idea of Autonomism by Simon Dubnov, emerging at the end of the 19th century as an answer to the increasing pressure to the Jews as a Diaspora group sui generis It unfolds the deep division within Jewish self-consciousness between East and West. In analyzing Dubnov's political ideas and activities of more than four decades, a portrait evolves which differs from the existing picture of his personality. Inspired by the pre-modern Jewish autonomy in Eastern Europe, he advocated the World Jewry being represented by a trans-territorial council towards states and the League of Nations. The book sheds light on the diverse Jewish political landscape in Eastern Europe before World War II. It describes the transition of Jewish Diaspora policy to a public, democratic, secular and rights demanding modern policy. Finally the book concludes with a discussion about the impact on present political problems linked to minorities.