On-Academic-Boycotts_0

Academic Boycotts Report

Introduction

  • Spring 2005: AAUP's Committee A condemned academic boycotts, reaffirming commitment to free exchange of ideas.

  • Importance of unrestricted international movement of scholars and ideas.

The Controversy

  • April 2005: British AUT announced a boycott of two Israeli universities (Bar-Ilan and Haifa) at the request of 60 Palestinian groups.

  • Reasons for boycott:

    • Solidarity against occupation and apartheid.

    • Calls for total boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions.

  • AUT’s stance: actions justified if deemed necessary for protecting members' interests.

  • Past AUT boycotts: various universities due to labor disputes and political circumstances.

AAUP’s Response to the Boycott

  • AAUP condemned proposed boycotts as violations of academic freedom.

  • Highlighted ideological tests in the boycott call that were contrary to their principles.

  • Noted the importance of examining their own past actions: support for divestment during anti-apartheid movements while maintaining academic freedom.

AAUP Policies on Academic Freedom

  • Academic freedom defended based on the common good, free search for truth.

  • Censure vs. boycott:

    • Censure is a form of protest with public attention; Boycott is a refusal to engage.

    • Censure requires investigation of violations; boycotts are last-resort measures.

  • Strikes:

    • Allowed under collective bargaining policy, seen as necessary in some disputes.

    • Economic pressure from strikes may intersect with academic discourse.

Historical Context of Academic Neutrality

  • 1970 debates on institutional neutrality related to Vietnam War:

    • Majority favored tolerating all ideas; others questioned if neutrality should be absolute.

  • Consideration of extraordinary situations requiring extraordinary actions: how to respond to violations of academic freedom historically?

Past AAUP Actions

  • 1985: urged colleges to oppose apartheid through divestment and resolutions.

  • AAUP distinguished between economic and academic boycotts:

    • Economic boycotts aim to pressure regimes; academic boycotts impede free exchange of ideas.

    • Past support for maintaining academic communication despite political repression.

Analysis of Boycotts and Tactics

  • Boycotts as tactical tools, not inherently principled actions.

  • Different types of boycotts (economic, academic, cultural) yield different impacts.

  • Academic boycotts undermine freedoms of those affected; not simply targeting governments.

  • Call for reconsideration of tactics: promoting resolution and dialogue over boycotts.

Recommendations

  1. Oppose academic boycotts in favor of open exchange of ideas.

  2. Encourage collaboration between higher education bodies to address academic freedom.

  3. Oppose selective academic boycotts that impose ideological tests.

  4. Recognize individual rights to non-cooperation without endorsing systematic boycotts.

  5. Support resolutions of condemnation as appropriate forms of protest against violations.

  6. Advocate for minimizing impact on academic freedom during economic strikes.

  7. Resist arguments for circumventing principles of academic freedom during crises.