The politics of cultural freedom
University of Amsterdam, 23 April 2015
Public discussion with:
Omar Barghouti, founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
Eyal Sivan, Israeli filmmaker, Honorary Fellow – European Center for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter, UK
Anne de Jong, assistant professor anthropology, University of Amsterdam
The discussion addressed different questions in relation to the growing global boycott movement like: Should culture and art be regarded as standing “above politics” and therefore be spared the growing boycott against Israel? Is the cultural boycott inherently in conflict with freedom of speech and freedom of the exchange of ideas? Is it fair to compare Israel to South African apartheid despite the obvious differences? What impact can the cultural boycott have on the global struggle for Palestinian rights, justice and equality? How can Israelis be part of the global boycott movement?
The discussion
The Q&A