The Americanization of Israeli Conservative Civil Society: a Critical Community and Transnational Transference Perspective

This article examines the Americanization of Israeli conservative civil society organizations (CSOs), by exploring how the transnational transfer of Jewish American philanthropy and the diffusion of conservative ideas influence the formation of right-wing Israeli CSOs, applying the theoretical framework of critical community. “Critical Community” is a concept describing the transference of ideas, ideologies, and cultural cues between protest groups in different countries. We explain the transnational diffusion of American conservative ideology using three case studies of Israeli CSOs that exhibit organizational trajectories affected by an American conservative model: The Tikvah Fund, Shalem Center, and the Kohelet Policy Forum. We trace the financial, ideational, and personal links between these CSOs and their American counterparts, shedding light on the significance of transnational relations between ideological groups across borders. Such a critical community enables philanthropic support for these organizations and the emergence of a conservative movement shaped by the flow of ideas from the United States to Israel.