Hegemony, multiculturalism, and globalisation

A longitudinal examination of the Israeli hit parade, 1982–2019

Bibliographic Data

ID24229980
AuthorsTal Zolta (0009-0008-5611-2681, Ariel University), Chen Kertcher (0000-0001-6524-8478, Ariel University), Eyal Lewin (0000-0001-5461-6634, Ariel University)
Year2026
Pages1-24
Publication date2026-10-08
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueIsrael Affairs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1353-7121 • E-ISSN: 1743-9086
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13537121.2026.2739620
OpenAlexW7221055749
LanguageEN
References cited41

This study critically examines the Israeli hit parade as a mediated arena where hegemony, multiculturalism, and globalisation intersect and contest power dynamics in popular music. Drawing on a longitudinal analysis of 190 top-five songs from the annual Hebrew Songs Parade of Kol Israel (Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation) (1982–2019), we investigate how these forces shape cultural production and national identity. The findings reveal a dominant global influence, with over 80% of songs featuring unidentified spaces, universal narrators, and no explicit mentions of Israel, suggesting globalisation often reinforces hegemonic Western norms rather than fostering genuine multiculturalism. While multicultural elements (e.g. Mizrahi narrators) have increased modestly, hegemonic themes have declined but persist in subtle forms. This case study contributes to cultural studies by illuminating how the state-regulated media negotiates local diversity amid global influence, offering insights for comparative analyses in other multicultural societies.

Cultural hegemony · Cultural policy · Globalization · Hegemony · Israeli society · Multiculturalism · Music industry · Popular music · Globalization and Cultural Identity · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Music History and Culture

Tools

Open DOI