BDS proponents claim only an “institutional boycott” is at stake that will not be directed against individuals. That distinction between institution and individual is untenable, as has been argued elsewhere.

But let’s assume–just for the sake of argument in this post–that one could  have an exclusively “institutional boycott” that somehow s…[Read more]

BDS proponents downplay the likely practical consequences of the boycott. They claim it will only prohibit the institution (e.g. the MLA) from collaborating with Israeli universities and will not impinge on the scholarly life of individuals. Let us leave aside here the ambiguity of individual vs. institution (would the chair of a literature…[Read more]

Check this out.

Those advocating that the MLA boycott Israeli academic institutions are rallying under the banner of “Justice for Palestine.” Everyone in fact should support justice, and not only in Palestine. Agreed? Unfortunately the slogan “Justice for Palestine” is just that, a slogan; it is a vehicle to attack Israel and is only concerned with “justice” when…[Read more]

Call for papers: MLA 2016
We invite you to submit paper proposals for any of the following panels, which we are planning for the January 2016 Modern Language Association annual conference, to convene in Austin, TX.

A Public Face for East Asian Poetry?
Investigating contemporary poetry’s impact on readerships large and small. Papers could address…[Read more]

Do BDS  supporters have anything to say about the burning of pilot Kasabeh? Or will they blame it on Israel?

Bassem Eid is the founder of the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group. He has also become a strident critic of the Palestinian Authority–given the threat that the PA poses to human rights. Hence his dismissal of the boycott.

The question in our discussion is whether those who call for “justice in Palestine” are able to see any injustice…[Read more]

Dear Colleagues:

Please see the CFP below. Feel free to distribute it wherever you feel it would be effective. I say that especially for the Japan and Korea specialists, because you know better than I the best avenues for distributing information. Thanks for your support on this.

Best wishes,
Christopher Lupke

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A Public Face for East Asian…[Read more]

The series of votes at the Delegate Assembly at the MLA convention in Vancouver showed some significant weaknesses to BDS and limits to its support. It’s important to look at the results closely and draw some conclusions.

Five votes deserve scrutiny: the initial vote to adopt the Delegate Assembly Organizing Committee (DAOC) two-year moratorium…[Read more]

The recent Delegate Assembly meeting in Vancouver included a robust discussion on a set of issues, prompted by the clash of two different proposed resolutions–one supporting academic boycotts, one opposing them. The Delegate Assembly Organizing Committee has wisely created space for discussion of these matters (an agreement that included a w…[Read more]

The recent Delegate Assembly meeting in Vancouver included a robust discussion on a set of issues, prompted by the clash of two different proposed resolutions–one supporting academic boycotts, one opposing them. The Delegate Assembly Organizing  Committee has wisely created space for discussion of these matters (an agreement that included a…[Read more]