Makdisi Street "The minimum we owe is solidarity” w/ Asli Bâli
Feb 7, 2025
Aslı Bâli, a Professor of Law at Yale and President of the Middle East Studies Association, dives into the pressing issues of academic freedom and geopolitical conflicts impacting scholars advocating for Palestinian rights. She discusses the rise of anti-Palestinian sentiment in the U.S., the repression faced by educators, and the ethical obligation of academics to support human rights. Bâli also explores the implications of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, the challenges of upholding international law, and the alarming suppression of free expression on campuses.
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Repressive Academic Climate
- The academic climate in the U.S. is increasingly repressive due to the Gaza War and related protests.
- These events have exacerbated pre-existing anti-DEI initiatives, impacting academic freedom.
Campus Lockdown at Columbia University
- Aslı Bali describes a talk at Columbia University where the campus was locked down due to a congressional hearing.
- This contrasted with protests in Turkey where university lockdowns sparked widespread mobilization.
Restraint Plus Approach to Foreign Policy
- Aslı Bali suggests a "restraint plus" approach to U.S. foreign policy, where the U.S. achieves more for human rights by doing less coercion.
- She argues that U.S. foreign policy often uses human rights rhetoric while undermining human rights in practice.