Dr. Ofer Kenig

IDI Researcher Dr. Ofer Kenig heads the political parties' research group of IDI's Forum for Political Reform in Israel. He holds a PhD in political science from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2008), and spent a post-doctoral year at the Department of Political Studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. 

Dr. Kenig's main academic interests are party politics, electoral systems, political leaders, and cabinet ministers. He has published articles in several leading academic journals including Electoral Studies and Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties. He is also a regular contributor to the IDI website.

Dr. Kenig is an active member in two international research groups: Project MAPP, a team that researches party members in European nations; and SEDEPE, which deals with the selection of political elites in established democracies.

Selected Publications

Ofer Kenig, “Classifying Party Leaders’ Selection Methods in Parliamentary Democracies.” Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties 19/4: 433–447, 2009

Ofer Kenig,  “Democratization of Party Leadership Selection:  Do Wider Selectorates Produce More Competitive Contests?” Electoral Studies 28/2: 240–247, 2009

Ofer Kenig, with Shlomit Barnea, “The Selection of Ministers in Israel: Is the Prime Minister a Master of His Domain?” Israel Affairs 15/3: 261–278, 2009

Ofer Kenig, “Democratizing Party Leadership Selection in Israel: A Balance Sheet.” Israel Studies Forum 24/1: 62–81, 2009

Ofer Kenig, “The 2003 Elections in Israel: Has the Return to the ‘Old’ System Reduced Party System Fragmentation?” Israel Affairs 11/3: 552–566, 2005

Ofer Kenig, with Gideon Rahat and Reuven Y. Hazan, “The Political Consequences of the Introduction and the Repeal of Direct Elections for the Prime Minister.” In: Asher Arian and Michal Shamir, eds. The Election in Israel – 2003. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 33–61, 2005

Articles on this Site

The Primary System in Israel: A Balance Sheet (2012)