The decision by the American Studies Association (ASA) to impose a boycott on Israeli institutions of higher education to protest against their alleged support of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians is beginning to cost the association dearly. Instead of leading a campaign to denounce Israeli universities, the ASA has become the target of ostracism and boycotts by American institutions of higher education. The relatively unknown organization has become the black sheep of American academe in the media.
According to an article in "The Chronicle of Higher Education", which covers academic institutions, the ASA's bitter experience now serves as a lesson to other academic organizations of how not to behave, even if they had previously considered following suit and taking symbolic steps against Israeli universities.
The campaign to boycott Israel has not been able to put down roots in the US, but the campaign to ostracize the ASA is gaining momentum and has spread quickly since it decided to boycott Israeli universities in mid-December. The presidents of over 80 US colleges and universities have condemned the decision.
"Such boycotts threaten academic speech and exchange, which it is our solemn duty as academic institutions to protect,” said Amherst College president Carolyn Martin in a statement posted on the university’s website. Nearly all of the presidents’ statements have similarly denounced the boycott as impeding the flow of ideas. Several have cited specific collaborations or exchanges with Israeli universities as evidence of their institutional commitment to maintaining strong relations with Israel.
At least five institutions - Bard College, Brandeis University, Indiana University, Kenyon College and Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg - have withdrawn from ASA membership.
To date, three of the US's most prominent higher-education organizations - the American Association of University Professors, the American Council on Education and the Association of American Universities - have denounced the ASA's boycott.
"The Chronicle of Higher Education" says that the speed and power of the backlash by the US academic establishment against the ASA is surprising, since it has only 4,000 members and lacks any formal ties with Israeli institutions.
"Why anyone should care what the ASA thinks bewilders me," said Stanley Katz, a higher-education policy expert at Princeton University.
Beyond the principled opposition against academic boycotts, it seems that the reason for the astonishment is that Israel has a special status in US academe.
Northwestern University president emeritus Henry Bienen said that the intricate ties between American and Israeli universities, especially in areas like scientific research, have also been a motivating factor. More broadly, he said, “Israel has a special place for lots of individuals in academic life,” including Jewish academics who are well represented on the faculties and in the administrations of US higher-education institutions.
Bard College president Leon Botstein, a boycott opponent, said that calls from alumni to take a stand against the boycott had played a role. “As an active member of the Jewish community, I recognize that the American Jewish community is disproportionately generous to American higher education,” he said. “For the president of an institution to express his or her solidarity with Israel is welcomed by a very important part of their support base."
A boycott supporter, Ashley Dawson, a professor of English at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center said that the opposition to the ASA resolution was "because it is daring to bring up the issue of what is happening in the Middle East."
"The Chronicle of Higher Education" says that one of the reasons for the rapid action against the boycott was fears that other academic associations would join the campaign against Israel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 6, 2014
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