Boycotts The Case for Raising Our Voices

Key Findings:

This article argues that while the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has largely failed in its primary goal of harming Israel’s economy (foreign direct investment into Israel has risen by over 400% in the past two decades) it has made significant inroads within academia.

BDS has found a particularly receptive audience in the social sciences and humanities, where decades of ideological framing have portrayed Israel as a colonial, genocidal, or apartheid state. This academic groundwork has allowed the BDS movement to thrive in university settings under the guise of moral and intellectual righteousness, even as it undermines academic rigor and free inquiry.

Despite this, a backlash is emerging among academics who (regardless of their personal politics) oppose BDS on the grounds that it violates the principles of academic freedom and scholarly excellence. When the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) reversed its long-standing opposition to academic boycotts in 2023, it sparked strong reactions. Thousands signed a counterstatement authored by respected scholars, arguing that the AAUP’s shift endangers academic norms. In contrast, the Association of American Universities (AAU), which represents leading North American research institutions, reaffirmed its opposition to boycotts, stating that scholarly collaboration must transcend national politics and remain grounded in the pursuit of knowledge.

Building support structures for faculty, students, donors, and administrators who value academic excellence over political activism is crucial. Professionals in alumni relations and student affairs should be leveraged to cultivate networks that reinforce academic freedom.

Long-term, momentum must be created behind principled resistance to BDS within academia. The necessary people and resources exist to defend core academic values and foster intellectual integrity in the face of ideological pressure do exist.