with Dr. Ben Bornstein

Abstract 

The latest eruption of mass violence in Israel highlighted the acute need for state support for victims of political violence, reinforcing what has now become a widely accepted global norm. However, the historical and cultural processes that led to the expectation that states should compensate, support, and commemorate civilian victims of war, terrorism, and hate crimes remain largely understudied. This paper examines the institutionalization of the Eyva victim category in Israel through an analysis of legislative protocols (1956–2019), interviews, and survey data. Specifically, it explores how public support for victims of political violence has been understood and justified over time and by victims of diverse backgrounds. The findings show that the Eyva category has been shaped by three distinct narratives of victimhood, creating a multidimensional category that simultaneously achieves broad cultural resonance across diverse groups while maintaining inherently contested boundaries. While the literature on the politics of victimhood tends to focus on the hidden interests behind claims for recognition, it rarely considers the broader cultural meanings grounded in these claims across different social contexts. Building on this empirical investigation, I propose a theoretical framework for understanding institutionalized victimhood, highlighting the dynamic interplay between victims, wrongdoing, and collective recognition. This new framework sheds light on the evolving nature of victimhood and its role in shaping state policies on reparation, while also revealing the deeper tension between nationalism and citizenship in contemporary democratic societies.