Leveling-Down Politics in Israeli Education During the 1960s

Abstract This paper examines the politics of leveling-down policy in education through the case study of the Israeli reforms in the 1960s, which sought to reduce gaps not only by strengthening disadvantaged students but also by deliberately limiting the avenues available for socially and economically advantaged students to ensure their superiority. This analysis locates the theoretical concept of leveling down within the broader historical context of postwar welfare state construction in Israel and Europe, specifically the expansion of the universal right to education. In so doing, it demonstrates how historical analysis can enrich the theoretical understanding of important political concepts, in this case elaborating on existing discourse previously largely confined to the fields of philosophy, law and sociology. Thus, the article seeks to contribute to the study of the history of education and to contemporary discussions on issues of equality and gaps in the education system.