Israel says that their military conscription indeed lowers some class barriers and helps the "startup nation" work.

Details matter. If a conscription term lasts for 9 months and the richest people do their best to get their offspring exempted (which is how it worked in Czechia prior to professionalization of the army), I am not surprised by the lack of overall effect.

If a conscription term lasts 3 years and the local elite feels compelled to take part (Israel), the effect may be much bigger.

Note that college is closer to the latter in its parameters.

Israel's success is because it teaches people leadership and risk taking , not because it mingles them with dumb money. There are studies about it e.g. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289369969_The_effec...

Maybe more countries should attempt to teach people leadership... if this is true, it looks like a fairly low-hanging fruit to be plucked.

Talking to some older Czechs who experienced the system, perhaps teaching people … anything at all would prove superior. Apparently the worst thing about it was the complete disrespect for people’s time and talent.

It seems to be working somewhat for the Swiss, although their conscription model is rather unusual in many ways.