Academic Boycotts Alone Are of Little Use

The academic boycott of South Africa began in the mid-1960s as a move to eliminate apartheid. Over time, the boycott gathered momentum, but had limited success. Critics pointed out that the boycott stifled the flow of ideas and interaction, hurting the very people who were supposed to be helped by the end of apartheid. Additionally, academics could avoid the boycott by using third parties to exchange ideas or simply ignoring it. Results of a 1991 survey suggested that the boycott of South African universities was “an irritation” and not a substantive way to change social policy. Most of the international community supported the South African boycotts, while similar boycotts against Israel have much less support. Academic boycotts are mere symbolic gestures, argues journalist Mark Klusener. To be effective, such boycotts must be backed by economic and social sanctions. – YaleGlobal