This paper describes and explains the informal influence of Israeli political culture on the public policy process. I will demonstrate how informal elements are rooted in Israeli society and are an integral part of its public policy and administration. Specifically, I explain the impact of a particular type of political culture, called "alternative politics" in the Israeli literature, on public policy and institutional settings. Alternative politics is based on a "do-ityourself" approach

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... by citizens to address their dissatisfaction with governmental services. When such a mode of political culture (whose purpose is to informally solve everyday problems) is diffused to all sectors and levels of society, all players, including bureaucrats and politicians, are guided by short-term considerations and apply unilateral strategies that bypass formal rules either through illegal activity or by marginalizing formal rules. Hence, the notion of alternative politics is not confined only to the Israeli experience, as elements of this issue emerge as part of the dialogue about political culture in Arab countries, as well as in other societies around the world. 3 This article describes and explains the informal influence of Israeli political culture on the public policy process. In contrast to studies of formal public policy, the focus of the essay is on informal modes of influence and activities. As I will demonstrate, these informal elements are rooted in Israeli society and are an integral part of its public policy and administration. The chapter explains the impact of a specific type of political culture, called "alternative politics" in the Israeli literature, on public policy and institutional settings. Alternative politics is based on a "do-it-yourself" approach adopted by citizens to address their dissatisfaction with governmental services. These actions are described as alternative, because this informal behavior becomes an integral part of the political culture and political behavior processes. When such a mode of political culture is diffused to all sectors and levels of society, all players, including bureaucrats and politicians, are guided by short-term considerations and apply unilateral strategies that bypass formal rules either through illegal activity or by marginalizing formal rules in order to solve various problems. Hence, the notion of alternative politics is not confined only to the Israeli experience. Elements of this approach are evident in discussions about the political culture in Arab countries, as well as in other societies around the world.