The Israeli Defence Forces and the Foundation of Israel: Utopia in Uniform

This book discusses the contribution of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to the building of the social and educational foundations of the country, and its role in the area of immigrant absorption and settlement during the first years of the Israeli State. The author examines how under the guidance of David Ben-Gurion Israel was able to utilize the values of military organization to combat severe, economic, and social difficulties, and build a civil society to underpin the new state.