Prof. Joel Beinin - Some oppose an academic boycott because they believe, or hope, that scholarly or other forms of dialogue contribute to peace. This can be debated, but in my opinion that hope rests on historical amnesia and category errors. Dialogue between slaves and slave-holders, and between abolitionists and slave-holders, did not bring about emancipation. Dialogue between French colonial settlers and Algerian Muslims did not lead to Algerian independence. Dialogue can have a positive outcome only if it is conducted among equals. Israeli scholars and institutions are generally pleased to regard western scholars as their colleagues and equals. Relatively few are willing to consider Palestinian scholars their peers, and that comprises a very large part of the problem.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 18:36:26 +0000
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