David Miller's Theory of Market Socialism and the Recent Reforms in Kibbutzim

Abstract

David Miller's recent works form a substantial contribution to socialist theory and particularly to the theory of market socialism. I consider that a model of market socialism as advanced by Miller is a feasible prescription for socialism in modern developed societies and that this is manifested in the changing features of the Israeli kibbutz. Furthermore, the ‘new’ kibbutz emerging from dramatic reforms is preferable to the system of cooperatives that Miller puts forward. Miller's theory is described as a conjunction of two socialist challenges to the capitalist society, the ‘distributive’ and the ‘quality-of-life’ critiques. The ideology of the ‘old-style’ kibbutz is then examined in the light of these theories. Finally, I explore reforms in the kibbutz, analysing these changes as a reflection of Miller's theory.¹