Abstract
When will public agencies act in violation of the rules set by the state in a strong state? This article demonstrates that when an organized religious— nationalist force manages to penetrate the state apparatus, it can cause the state to lose some enforcement capacity vis-à-vis the penetrating force. The activists, in turn, can use the infiltrated arms of the state to realize their preferences, even if the pursuant practices contradict state laws. These conclusions are based on research conducted on Jewish settlements constructed unlawfully in the West Bank. The establishment of these settlements necessitated some collaboration from state agencies. Settler activism that included penetration into important arms of the bureaucracy is identified as an important facilitator of unauthorized settlements. The lessons drawn from the case are generalizable and can apply to other types of societal mobilization.
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