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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 20, No. 4. April 18, 1957

Western-Type Dem

Western-Type Dem.

"Israel is a democracy in the sense which we know it in New Zealand, with some limitations." It is run on the form of complete proportional representation—without separate constituencies. At first this meant that there were as many as 28 parties, but now there are only six major forces in the country and some minor parties. The main governing party is the Mapai, which is the equivalent of the Labour Party. It is not ultrasocialist, but combines Marxist. Fabian and other influences. The second major party is the Mapam, which is an orthodox Marxist party. There are extreme reactionaries, Arabs and religious blocs as well. It is important to realise that divisions in Israel are built up to a great extent on ideologies and principles.

It is essentially a semi-socialist state, and the only state in the Middle East with universal suffrage for both sexes.