Collective Innovation: The Startup Nation’s roots in the kibbutz movement
In Israel’s early years, long before it became the “Start-up Nation,” the country began to develop when communities of people came together and found a way to live and progress. They did this through the creation of kibbutzim, a collective communal society based on the guiding principles of socialism. Although the kibbutzim approach contradicts the capitalist system which the startup industry is based on today, it was an instrumental part of Israel’s success story. After all, the concept of kibbutz is innovative in itself. After years of being the supporting pillar of Israel’s economy, in the 1980s the kibbutz movement began to suffer the consequences of Israel’s economic transition from socialism to a free market based on capitalist values. Most kibbutzim had to privatize part or all of their economic and social structures to avoid going bankrupt. However, some kibbutzniks tapped into their innovative roots and were able to overcome the crisis they faced. Showing some of the ingenuity they are famous for, the kibbutzim branched out from farming and turned to high-tech in order to save their communities. A conceptual change Today...
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