Institutional Differentiation or Inherent Monism? An Analysis of Israel’s System of Higher Education (1990–2026)

This article examines the development of Israel’s system of higher education over three decades, focusing on the paradox between mass quantitative expansion and ‘functional convergence’. While the number of students grew 3.5-fold and the system underwent an accelerated process of massification, functional differentiation remained limited due to institutional isomorphic pressures and promotion incentives that sanctify the research university model. The analysis reveals how academic drift and maximally maintained inequality (MMI) mechanisms preserve social and institutional stratification even under the guise of formal pluralism. It is evident from the research findings that Israel’s system of higher education is caught in a loop of research prestige leading to neglect of its teaching and community engagement missions, requiring a paradigmatic change to “uncertainty as a foundation” and distinct mission-oriented management.