Centrality of Events and Changes in Political Identity: The Impact of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict on Argentine Immigrants

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62174/psocial.11053

Keywords:

Identidad política, Centralidad del evento, Autoritarismo de derecha, Dominancia social, Conflicto israelí-palestino.

Abstract

Characterized by its protracted nature and recurring episodes of existential threat, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict has served as a structuring axis of political life in Israel, shaping collective narratives and political identities, including among immigrant communities such as Argentines. This study explores if conditions of sustained crisis may be related to the political identity of Argentine immigrants living in Israel, focusing on factors such as Centrality of Events, right-wing authoritarianism, and social dominance orientation. Adopting a quantitative approach, surveys were administered to Argentine immigrants over the age of 18 residing in Israel to assess changes in their political identity in response to the conflict. The results revealed weak and non-significant correlations, limiting the ability to draw robust conclusions. However, certain trends suggest a possible intensification of authoritarian stances under conditions of perceived threat, while shifts toward other political orientations cannot be ruled out. These preliminary findings underscore the complexity of how prolonged crises impact political beliefs and point to important avenues for future research.

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Published

2026-02-06

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Section

Dossier