Academic freedom, the boycott of Israel, and what psychologists can do: against the politics of normalization. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kagee, Ashraf
• Is Part Of: South African journal of psychology =. Volume 50:Number 2(2020:Jun.)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 227
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Academic boycott -- academic freedom -- Palestine -- psychology -- social justice; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0081246319882527
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0081-2463

Abstract

This article uses the Recognition, Reparation and Reconciliation Conference held at Stellenbosch University in December 2018 as a lens to argue for an academic boycott of Israel while maintaining the principle of academic freedom, specifically as it pertains to the discipline of psychology. I argue that Israel is an apartheid state, that there is a need to isolate Israel politically, economically, culturally, and academically, and that the objection to the academic boycott of Israel is a selective application of the concept of academic freedom and is therefore a spurious argument. Rather than infringing on academic freedom, the boycott may increase the likelihood of academic freedom in Israel–Palestine. I provide possible suggestions about how the international community, including psychologists, might engage with the Israeli academy in the interests of furthering a human rights agenda.