Crisis In The Israeli Kibbutz

Within the last decade, the kibbutzim of Israel have experienced a fundamental transformation that poses challenges to their values of collectivism and solidarity. This collection by leading scholars of the kibbutz not only updates knowledge of this innovative society, but also draws parallels to changes occurring in the West.

Kibbutz society is currently experiencing major change. Economic crises that erupted ten years ago have transferred into major social and ideological crises. The underlying debate is about what values should govern kibbutzim, as collectivism and altruism clash with individual and egocentric values in offering policies and directions for the future of the kibbutz society.

An important result of the changes is the irrelevance of much past research about kibbutzim. This book updates that research. With chapters by leading scholars of the kibbutz, this book not only updates knowledge of this innovative society, but also draws parallels to changes occurring in the West. This collection will be of particular interest to scholars and researchers of the kibbutz and the cooperative phenomenon, and those interested in alternative approaches to aging, education, management, and women's studies.

Review: For more than 70 years, the kibbutz has been the outstanding example of all the attempts to construct and live a reality based on socialist ideas and principles different from capitalist markets, companies, and social relations....This book is a must for all interested in the kibbutz and its development.

It should be of interest, too, to all who consider neo-institutionalism a promising stream of organization theory. And, in a similar vein, it provides material for the discussion about similarities and differences between the governance mechanisms hierarchy, market, and cooperation. -Professor Klaus Bartolke Bergische Universitat Gesamthochschule Wuppertal