Young Ambassadors

This innovative study is the first thorough empirical analysis of the German-Israeli youth exchange from a political science perspective. In addition to archive material and newspaper articles (eras 1965-67, 1972/73, 1990/91, 2000), the comprehensive data set encompasses 130 qualitative interviews with six different interest groups in Germany and Israel. The research focuses on the school exchange programs between the twin cities of Cologne-Tel Aviv and Bremen-Haifa. Within the area of foreign cultural policy the objective of this research is to enhance knowledge about the interdependence of the ‘special relationship’ between Germany and the State of Israel and the youth exchange programs. The results indicate that the interdependence between the macro political level and the micro youth exchange level – though constantly there – has lost its strength over time due to the gradual process of normalization between the two states. By presenting this rich empirical data, the book not only opens up new fields of empirical research for scientists interested in studying international youth exchange, but is also highly relevant for practitioners involved in German-Israeli youth exchange.