| Abstract | The political‒cultural paradigm has become a common theoretical framework during recent decades. Scholars use it in diverse disciplines, such as urban sociology and urban politics. This article introduces that framework into the realm of public policy within the context of the university‒community relationship. The well-known university‒community debate follows the question: to what extent should an urban university be involved and engaged in community life? The article examines the case of Ben-Gurion University and the city of Beersheba during 1970‒2012. The findings show that the local university aimed to advance its urban community and to act on behalf of community interests, but the community did not always view this involvement positively, often criticizing it. An analysis using the political‒cultural paradigm finds cultural differences between university and community which result from a long history of conflict and from different collective memories.
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