Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Steven Plaut
open-in-new
<h2 id="biography">Biography</h2> <p>Steven Plaut was born in <a href="/facts/Philadelphia/2bFFCCTU">Philadelphia</a>. In 1981, Plaut <a href="/facts/Aliyah/jEbdJ56U">immigrated</a> to Israel with his family. He died on January 17, 2017, in <a href="/facts/Haifa/L3zIs1p1">Haifa</a>, <a href="/facts/Israel/dEe3IcaY">Israel</a> at the age of 65 after battling cancer for many years.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> <h3>Academic career</h3> <p>Plaut received his <a href="/facts/Bachelor_of_Arts/2pa1nwfR">undergraduate degree</a> from <a href="/facts/Temple_University/trvSdFWo">Temple University</a> in Philadelphia and his <a href="/facts/Master_of_Arts/ABQoKTLg">MA</a> from <a href="/facts/Hebrew_University_of_Jerusalem/aEpNukpQ">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a>. He received a <a href="/facts/Doctor_of_Philosophy/paJumdN8">Ph.D.</a> in <a href="/facts/Economics/HYctA2Dn">economics</a> from <a href="/facts/Princeton_University/n3EPGHBM">Princeton University</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> specializing in international and urban economics and later in <a href="/facts/Finance/fLh1GgN8">finance</a>. Plaut worked at the <a href="/facts/Federal_Reserve_Bank/5hUlvzMU">Federal Reserve Bank</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Before his professorship at the Haifa University, he taught at <a href="/facts/Oberlin_College/oXrCnwWv">Oberlin College</a>, the <a href="/facts/Technion/BXIHd5sP">Technion</a>, <a href="/facts/University_of_California%2c_Berkeley/MXVEjklr">UC Berkeley</a>, <a href="/facts/University_of_California%2c_Irvine/gS3nEt3V">UC Irvine</a>, <a href="/facts/Central_European_University/jcSSK1oU">Central European University</a>, <a href="/facts/Tel_Aviv_University/5MVPPor0">Tel Aviv University</a>, <a href="/facts/University_of_Nantes/3KqJCJWl">University of Nantes</a>, and Athens Laboratory for Business Administration.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <h3>Literary career</h3> <p>Plaut first work was <i>Import Dependence and Economic Vulnerability</i>, published in 1983.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>In his 1985 book titled <i>The Joy of Capitalism</i>, Plaut argues for <a href="/facts/Free_market/KnK7JohY">free market</a> economics and compares the profit motive to the <a href="/facts/Libido/g1Eb72tA">libido</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> In the book he discusses energy, housing, banking and agricultural policy as well as equality and income distribution.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p><i>The Scout</i> is a fictionalized account of Plaut's near-death experience as a <a href="/facts/Kidney_cancer/jx6L4829">kidney cancer</a> patient in an <a href="/facts/Intensive_care/lbc92jbH">intensive care</a> ward. It is structured as a series of life stories exchanged between himself and another patient in the ward, an Israeli <a href="/facts/Bedouin/gIASwABv">Bedouin</a> scout. This novel was published in 2002. </p> <h3>Political views</h3> <p>Plaut was an outspoken critic of the Israeli-Arab peace process and Israel's unilateral withdrawal policy. Since the <a href="/facts/Oslo_Accords/UfAI7Luo">Oslo Accords</a>, he argued that Arab leaders would continue to seek the destruction of Israel through violence and <a href="/facts/Terrorism/DHJGPJ6P">terrorism</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> Some of his political writings are criticisms of <a href="/facts/Nakba_Day/pUkJ5wH8">Nakba Day</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>Plaut was critical of many Israeli left-wing figures,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> as well as some Americans such as <a href="/facts/Michael_Lerner_(rabbi)/KKYKgCxJ">Michael Lerner</a> and <a href="/facts/Norman_Finkelstein/JyX2pyA5">Norman Finkelstein</a>, whom he described as <a href="/facts/Self-hating_Jew/aBKlhEUT">self-hating Jews</a> and apologists for terrorism that are promoting the destruction of Israel.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> Plaut was opposed to what he saw as left-wing extremism in Israeli universities, and was actively involved in Isracampus, a self-proclaimed watchdog organization that publicizes anti-Israel people and groups.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> In the Canadian <i><a href="/facts/The_Jewish_Tribune_(Canada)/FcDs2B8v">Jewish Tribune</a></i>, he denounced <a href="/facts/Anarchists_Against_the_Wall/qegPCedw">Anarchists Against the Wall</a>, a group protesting the <a href="/facts/Israeli_West_Bank_barrier/9und9yno">Israeli West Bank barrier</a> which he said was composed of "violent hooligans and anarcho-fascist thugs."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="libel-case">Libel case</h2> <p>Plaut was sued for libel by <a href="/facts/Neve_Gordon/qv2npkj4">Neve Gordon</a>, a faculty member at the <a href="/facts/Ben-Gurion_University_of_the_Negev/8hRscAtk">Ben-Gurion University of the Negev</a> Department of Politics and Government, claiming that Plaut slandered him in certain articles and alleged e-mails. In May 2006, the <a href="/facts/Nazareth/hfzpLR1I">Nazareth</a> Magistrate's Court ruled in favor of Gordon, and ordered Plaut to pay Gordon 80,000 shekels in compensation plus 15,000 shekels in legal fees.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> Both sides <a href="/facts/Appeal/kJaMAf3p">appealed</a> to the Nazareth District Court, and in February 2008, the court reversed three out of four of the libel claims but upheld a libel judgment relating to the fourth, a publication in which Plaut called Gordon a "<a href="/facts/Judenrat/bQyEKmCS">Judenrat</a> Wannabe". It reduced the damages to 10,000 shekels (about $2,700) on the basis that, in the court's view, Plaut was entitled to criticize Gordon.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="letter-to-turkish-prime-minister">Letter to Turkish Prime Minister</h2> <p>In March 2013, a letter from Plaut was received by the office of <a href="/facts/Recep_Tayyip_Erdo%25C4%259Fan/7lFKaJH7">Recep Tayyip Erdoğan</a>, Prime Minister of Turkey. The letter condemned as illegal Turkey's occupation of <a href="/facts/Northern_Cyprus/8NvuJlvQ">Northern Cyprus</a> and attacked the Turkish Prime Minister, accusing him of being behind the Gaza Flotilla "terrorist attack" on Israeli soldiers. Plaut apologized for Israel not killing a larger number of "terrorists" on the flotilla ship. He claimed it was time to give back "occupied Constantinople" to its "true owner", namely, Greece.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Neo-Zionism/DFdRI74b">Neo-Zionism</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://conservativetruth.org/opinionet/archives/stevenplaut/toc-plaut.shtml">OpinioNet columns</a> Older collection of articles</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Gotlieb, Andy (19 January 2017). "Former Philadelphian, University of Haifa Professor Steven Plaut Dies at 65". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 20 January 2017. <a href="http://jewishexponent.com/2017/01/19/former-philadelphian-university-haifa-professor-steven-plaut-dies-65/" target="_blank">http://jewishexponent.com/2017/01/19/former-philadelphian-university-haifa-professor-steven-plaut-dies-65/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Levi Julian, Hana (19 January 2017). "Professor Steven Plaut, z'l". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 21 January 2017. <a href="http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/professor-steven-plaut-zl/2017/01/19/" target="_blank">http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/professor-steven-plaut-zl/2017/01/19/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Steven Plaut, PhD". ProCon.org. August 6, 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014. <a href="http://deathpenalty.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=006291" target="_blank">http://deathpenalty.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=006291</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Steven Plaut, PhD". ProCon.org. August 6, 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014. <a href="http://deathpenalty.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=006291" target="_blank">http://deathpenalty.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=006291</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Plaut, Steven. "Steven Plaut, CV attachment". Central European University. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160130143846/http://economics.ceu.edu/people/steven-plaut" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20160130143846/http://economics.ceu.edu/people/steven-plaut</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Plaut, Steven E. (1983). Import dependence and economic vulnerability. Greenwich, Connecticut: JAI Press. ISBN 978-0-89232-392-0. <a href="978-0-89232-392-0" target="_blank">978-0-89232-392-0</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Plaut, Steven E. (1985). "2". The Joy of Capitalism. Longman. pp. 7–9. ISBN 978-0-582-29671-8. Retrieved 26 October 2024. <a href="978-0-582-29671-8" target="_blank">978-0-582-29671-8</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Plaut, Steven E. (1 January 1985). The Joy of Capitalism. New Jersey: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc. ISBN 0582296714. <a href="0582296714" target="_blank">0582296714</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Plaut, Steven (2012-06-22). "The Oslo Final Solution". Conservative Truth. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2016-01-22. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120205235822/http://conservativetruth.org/opinionet/archives/stevenplaut/06-22-02.shtml" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120205235822/http://conservativetruth.org/opinionet/archives/stevenplaut/06-22-02.shtml</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Plaut, Steven (15 March 2012). "Op-Ed: Happy Nakba Day!". Israel National News. Retrieved 29 March 2013. <a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11654#.UVYXlpPvuSo" target="_blank">http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11654#.UVYXlpPvuSo</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Plaut, Steven. "Personal Blog". Retrieved 29 March 2013. <a href="http://stevenplaut.blogspot.co.il/" target="_blank">http://stevenplaut.blogspot.co.il/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Plaut, Steven. "Stupid Left, Satanic Left". Jewish Press. Archived from the original on 2005-04-27. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050427085537/http://www.thejewishpress.com/news_article.asp?article=1870" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20050427085537/http://www.thejewishpress.com/news_article.asp?article=1870</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Main Page". IsraCampus. Retrieved 29 March 2013. <a href="http://www.isracampus.org.il/" target="_blank">http://www.isracampus.org.il/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Nesher, Talila (22 January 2012). "10 percent of Israeli academics labeled 'anti-Zionist' by campus watchdogs". Haaretz. Retrieved 29 March 2013. <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/10-percent-of-israeli-academics-labeled-anti-zionist-by-campus-watchdogs-1.408535" target="_blank">http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/10-percent-of-israeli-academics-labeled-anti-zionist-by-campus-watchdogs-1.408535</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Plaut, Steven. "Pepe Le Pew makes aliyah and protects the Jews". The Jewish Tribune. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090727093000/http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php/200907221846/Pepe-Le-Pew-makes-aliyah-and-protects-the-Jews.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20090727093000/http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php/200907221846/Pepe-Le-Pew-makes-aliyah-and-protects-the-Jews.html</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Moskowitz, Ira (9 June 2006). "U.S.-born professor guilty of libeling colleague". Haaretz. Retrieved 29 March 2013. <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/u-s-born-professor-guilty-of-libeling-colleague-1.189859" target="_blank">http://www.haaretz.com/u-s-born-professor-guilty-of-libeling-colleague-1.189859</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Kalman, Matthew (March 5, 2008). "Israeli Appeals Court Upholds Libel Judgment Against Academic but Reduces Damages". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 2008-07-01. <a href="http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/03/1937n.htm" target="_blank">http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/03/1937n.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>ע"א (נצרת) 1184/06 - פרופ' סטיבן פלאוט נ' ד"ר ניב גורדון . תק-מח 2008(1), 11886. (Hebrew) 1184/06 Steven Plaut Vs. Dr. Neve Gordon, Takdin-District 2008(1) Full text of the District Court's decision is available here Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.takdin.co.il/search/NetisUtils/srvrutil_getdoc.aspx?path=/nepsdoc/1L3OtCJOtN34nE3HVONKkC3OkQ7HjR000/1184_au.06.html&ts=&cp=0" target="_blank">http://www.takdin.co.il/search/NetisUtils/srvrutil_getdoc.aspx?path=/nepsdoc/1L3OtCJOtN34nE3HVONKkC3OkQ7HjR000/1184_au.06.html&ts=&cp=0</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Netanyahu'nun özrü İsrailli profesörü çılgına çevirdi". Zaman (in Turkish). Cihan. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130329081438/http://www.zaman.com.tr/dis-haberler_netanyahunun-ozru-israilli-profesoru-cilgina-cevirdi_2070169.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130329081438/http://www.zaman.com.tr/dis-haberler_netanyahunun-ozru-israilli-profesoru-cilgina-cevirdi_2070169.html</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Köseoğlu, Ferhan (26 March 2013). "Netanyahu'nun özrü İsrailli profesörü çılgına çevirdi". Milliyet (in Turkish). Cihan. Retrieved 29 March 2013. <a href="http://dunya.milliyet.com.tr/netanyahu-nun-ozru-israilli-profesoru-cilgina-cevirdi/dunya/dunyadetay/26.03.2013/1685582/default.htm" target="_blank">http://dunya.milliyet.com.tr/netanyahu-nun-ozru-israilli-profesoru-cilgina-cevirdi/dunya/dunyadetay/26.03.2013/1685582/default.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>