Types of Zionism

Zionism is defined as the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their ancestral home. While sharing a core belief in the Jewish people's right to a national home, the Zionist vision covers a range of approaches, including from when the movement was first conceived in the second half of the 19th century.

Zionist beliefs have been categorized into roughly a dozen varieties by academics. The first Zionists were either political or practical Zionists, as typified by Theodor Herzl, considered the father of the Zionist movement. The rise of socialist movements in the first part of the 20th century resulted in the rise of left-wing Labor Zionism. Synthetic and general Zionists combine the ideas of political and practical Zionists. Liberal Zionists emphasize the importance of Liberalism. Revisionist Zionists accept many tenets of Liberal Zionism but have expanded territorial aims—including parts of Jordan. Religious Zionism views Zionism as an integral to Orthodox Judaism. Cultural Zionism emphasizes a secular approach. Revolutionary Zionism emerged from guerrilla warfare against the British (who oversaw Mandatory Palestine), and attracted both left- and right-wing nationalists. Reform Zionism is associated with Reform Judaism.

Other kinds of Zionist thought include Christian Zionism, and even Antisemitic Zionism. Anti-Zionists oppose Zionism altogether. Schools of thought prior to Herzl may be considered Proto-Zionism. Post-Zionism argues that Zionism was successful given the creation of Israel and argues that Israel must build a new civic identity based on multi-ethnic liberal democracy.