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Antigona Ashkar

Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare. Schwartz Management of Nonprofit and Community Organizations Program.

Research Topic

Giving among Minorities - The Case of the Arab Minority in Israel.

Research Summary

The Arab minority in Israel constitutes 20.7% of the population. In recent decades, the Arab minority in Israel has been going through a process of modernization, and it's reasonable to assume that this process has affected its characteristics of giving and volunteering. Most civil society organizations in Arab society in Israel were established in the last two decades. The past decade has seen a marked increase in the study of philanthropy in the world in general and in Israel in particular. However, to date, there is no comprehensive and updated information regarding private giving [donations and volunteering] of the Arab minority in Israel.

The purpose of the study is to provide a comprehensive and updated picture of the philanthropic behavior of the Arab minority in Israel as an indigenous national minority that is in conflict with the establishment. The study will examine the patterns of giving, the connection between its characteristics and motivations and the socio-demographic variables of the philanthropists, including level of religiousness. The study will also examine the relationship between Arab minority attitudes toward the state and giving characteristics, and how perceptions of family collectivism affect giving. Findings regarding perceptions of family collectivism-individualism and attitudes toward the state will permit studying of the transition process of the Arab minority from a traditional society towards a more modern one and may help policy-makers and decision-makers in developing programs and solutions to the problems and needs of this minority.