Introduction

Abstract

This volume aims to describe, analyze, and evaluate the experiment with community councils in Jerusalem, Israel. The historical development of the organization, its espoused ideology and goals, and its unique domain and programs are compared with various models of neighborhood organizations in different parts of the world. The experience of neighborhood organizations in other cities provides a basis for examining the contribution of community councils in Jerusalem toward establishing a civil society that attempts to promote the well-being of its members, i.e., the neighborhood residents. Similarly, the discussion of experiments in other countries may add insights into the structural and ideological dilemmas encountered by neighborhood organizations in Jerusalem, and help clarify the impact of those dilemmas on achieving the neighborhood organizations espoused goals. Comparative analysis reveals that neighborhood organizations in different parts of the world encounter some of the same problems, yet are not always able to provide effective responses. One main problematic area is the relationship between neighborhood organizations and the central municipalities. Specifically, there is ideological and structural tension related to decentralization of authority and shifting responsibilities from the central municipality to the neighborhood level.