British Boycott Threat Sparks ASA Council Action

The American Sociological Association’s governing Council approved an official policy statemeant at its August 15, 2007, meeting that was prompted by, and in opposition to, the renewed effort last May of the 120,000-member British University and College Union to approve a boycott of Israeli academics and academic institutions. The boycott proposed by delegates of the Union was intended to protest Israeli government policies that adversely affect Palestinian scholars and people. While the boycott was declared illegal by advisors to the Union this fall and has since died, the boycott idea stirred considerable international debate and condemnation, including by U.S. academic institutional leadership. Sociologists even debate ASA’s response to the proposed boycott (see Public Forum section in this Footnotes issue). The ASA statement appears below and can be accessed on ASA’s website at www.asanet.org.

Resolution of the 2007-2008 Council of the American Sociological Association

August 15, 2007

Whereas the American Sociological Association (ASA) is committed to academic freedom, including full participation in the academic community, for all scholars irrespective of their nationality, institutional affiliation, or personal political beliefs; and Whereas the British University and College Union has voted to consider a boycott of Israeli academics and academic institutions; and

Whereas Israeli restrictions on Palestinian students prevent them from studying at institutions of higher education in Israel, the West Bank, and abroad;