Ideological conflicts and their resolution in the kibbutz movement 1948-1956

This study examines the social and ideological conflicts within one of the kibbutz movements during the period of left radicalization from 1948 to 1953. It focuses on the kibbutzim Yir'on and Kissufim, both founded in 1949, and explores how external political struggles within the Mapam party influenced internal kibbutz dynamics. The research highlights the ideological rift caused by the Prague Trials and the subsequent expulsion of one of the party's leaders' supporters, which led to significant social tensions and splits within these communities. The study analyzes the role of the kibbutz leadership and external political forces in managing these conflicts and the impact on the kibbutzim's social fabric. It concludes that the combination of ideological beliefs and social tensions, particularly among immigrant groups, played a crucial role in the radicalization process and the eventual resolution of conflicts through the expulsion of dissenting members.