Academic Freedom Under Attack at Paris’s EHESS
School’s Neutrality Stance Stifles Palestine Solidarity
At the prestigious École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris, academic freedom is under fire. The school’s purported neutrality stance has stifled solidarity with Palestine, leading to censorship of pro-Palestine demonstrations and the silencing of inquiry into the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Censorship of Pro-Palestine Demonstrations
In recent months, EHESS has repeatedly banned or disrupted pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus. In one instance, students were prevented from holding a peaceful vigil in solidarity with Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes. The school’s administration cited concerns about “public order” and “neutrality.”
Pretense of Academic Neutrality Silences Inquiry
EHESS’s pretense of academic neutrality has effectively silenced any meaningful discussion of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Forums and events that could provide a platform for Palestinian voices or critical perspectives on Israel’s policies are routinely canceled or censored. This selective silencing creates a distorted and incomplete understanding of the conflict, where one side’s narrative is privileged over the other.
School’s Neutrality Stance Stifles Palestine Solidarity
Censorship of pro-Palestine demonstrations
EHESS’s administration has repeatedly censored pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus. In 2021, a planned solidarity event was abruptly canceled, and students who attempted to hold a peaceful protest were met with police intervention. This suppression of free speech has created a chilling effect on campus.
Pretense of academic neutrality silences inquiry into Israel-Palestine conflict
EHESS’s administration claims to uphold academic neutrality, but this stance has been used as a pretext to silence inquiry into the Israel-Palestine conflict. Discussions about the conflict are often framed in a way that favors the Israeli government and ignores the suffering of Palestinians. This has led to a distorted and incomplete understanding of the situation among many students.
Bias and Retaliation Alleged
Implicit bias in school’s statements and forums
EHESS’s administration and faculty have been accused of implicit bias against pro-Palestinian voices. This bias is evident in the language used in official statements and in the selection of speakers for public forums. For example, the school has repeatedly referred to pro-Palestine activists as “anti-Semitic,” a term that is often used to delegitimize criticism of Israel.
Culture of intellectual blindness toward racism and colonialism
EHESS has a long history of intellectual blindness toward racism and colonialism. The school has been slow to acknowledge its own complicity in the French colonial project and has failed to adequately address the ongoing legacy of racism in French society. This culture of intellectual blindness has made it difficult for students to engage in meaningful discussions about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Disciplinary actions and possible criminal charges against students for speaking out
Students who have spoken out in support of Palestine have faced disciplinary actions and even possible criminal charges. In 2022, six students were investigated for “apology for terrorism” after they signed a letter expressing solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. This investigation was initiated after the school’s administration provided information to the authorities, a move that has raised concerns about the school’s commitment to academic freedom.
Student Occupation and Demands
Encampment for “open university” on Israel-Palestine conflict
In response to the school’s suppression of pro-Palestine voices, students have occupied a building on campus and established an “open university” on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The open university offers lectures, workshops, and discussions that provide a more balanced and critical perspective on the conflict than what is typically found in EHESS classrooms.
Demands for cease-fire, support for Palestinian scholars, and end to disciplinary actions
The students who are occupying the building have issued a list of demands, including a cease-fire in Gaza, support for Palestinian scholars, and an end to disciplinary actions against students who have spoken out in support of Palestine. The school has agreed to some of the students’ demands, but it has not yet met all of them.
Police Intervention and School’s Response
Police end occupation, but no arrests made
On February 21, 2023, police entered the occupied building and ended the occupation. However, no arrests were made, and the students were allowed to leave the building peacefully. This suggests that the school may be willing to tolerate some level of dissent on the Israel-Palestine issue, even if it is not willing to fully endorse the students’ demands.
Students secure some assurances for “open university” activities
The students who occupied the building have secured some assurances from the school that they will be allowed to continue their “open university” activities. However, the school has not yet agreed to all of the students’ demands, and it is unclear whether the school will continue to tolerate the open university in the long term.
School hesitates to endorse students’ other demands
The school has been hesitant to endorse the students’ other demands, such as a cease-fire in Gaza and support for Palestinian scholars. This suggests that the school is still unwilling to take a strong stand on the Israel-Palestine issue, even in the face of student pressure.
Alleged Tip-Off to Authorities
Six students face investigation for “apology for terrorism”
In February 2023, six students were investigated for “apology for terrorism” after they signed a letter expressing solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. The investigation was initiated after the school’s administration provided information to the authorities. This move has raised concerns about the school’s commitment to academic freedom and has led to accusations that the school is colluding with the government to suppress dissent.
Tip provided by school directors in line with government pressure
The school’s directors have admitted that they provided information to the authorities about the students who signed the letter of solidarity. This move was likely in response to pressure from the French government, which has been cracking down on pro-Palestinian activism in recent years.
Double Standard in School’s Position
Open opposition to Russian invasion of Ukraine
EHESS has been outspoken in its opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The school has issued a statement condemning the invasion and has organized several events to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people. This stance is commendable, but it also highlights the school’s double standard on the issue of human rights.
Equivocal stance on Israel-Palestine conflict, with guarded language and exclusion of Palestinian voices in forums
In contrast to its strong stance on Ukraine, EHESS has taken a much more equivocal stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The school has issued statements calling for peace and dialogue, but it has avoided taking a clear position on the issue. This guarded language has allowed the school to avoid alienating either pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian constituencies.
Conclusion
The situation at EHESS is a microcosm of the broader challenges facing academic freedom in France and around the world. As governments crack down on dissent, universities are increasingly being forced to choose between upholding their commitment to academic freedom and protecting their own interests. EHESS’s handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict has shown that it is willing to compromise its commitment to academic freedom in order to maintain its relationships with the government and other powerful interests. This is a dangerous trend that all who value academic freedom should be concerned about.