Anthropologists Marshalling History: the American Anthropological Association’s Vote on the Academic Boycott of Israeli Institutions

[this essay originally appeared on Counterpunch]

by Roberto J. González and David Price

The membership of the world’s largest professional association of anthropologists, the American Anthropological Association (AAA), is now in the midst of an election that will determine whether or not the Association will apply boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) to Israeli academic institutions.

This is the most challenging political issue facing American anthropologists since the Vietnam War, with both supporters and opponents passionately expressing their views in the media, at professional conferences, and in public forums. Strong language and accusations have characterized the debates surrounding the proposed academic boycott. There are good people on both sides.

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“People are not willing to be silenced” — Ilana Feldman on the Boycott

[this interview originally appeared on The Weave]

At its recent meeting in Denver, members of the American Anthropological Association voted overwhelmingly in support of a resolution calling on the AAA to boycott Israeli academic institutions. Following the historic vote I reached out to Ilana Feldman, a member of the group that spearheaded the effort to bring the resolution forward. Feldman is Associate Professor of Anthropology, History, and International Affairs at George Washington University and author of the recently-released monograph Police Encounters: Security and Surveillance in Gaza Under Egyptian Rule (Stanford University Press) and numerous other publications. Below is a transcript of our conversation, presented here as part of my occasional “Interweaving” series of conversations on contemporary global issues.

“We’re Part of a Spreading Movement”: Nadia Abu El-Haj on Historic #AAA2015 Victory

Nadia Abu El-Haj spoke on KPFA radio’s UpFront program hosted by Brian Edwards-Tiekert this morning about the historic vote at #AAA2015 in support of the boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Listen by clicking on the link below.