Universities and Institutions Disassociated from MESA

Below is an aggregated list of universities and groups that revoked their institutional memberships with the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) due to the resolution calling for an academic boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

  • Association for Israel Studies
  • Boston College
  • Brandeis University
  • Brigham Young University
  • Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies
  • Florida State University
  • Georgia State University
  • Indiana University
  • Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
  • Marquette University
  • Notre Dame University
  • Ohio State University
  • Princeton’s Institute for the Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East
  • Tufts University
  • United States Naval Academy
  • University of Arizona
  • University of Florida
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • University of Massachusetts at Amherst
  • University of Texas
  • University of Utah
  • University of Wisconsin at Madison
  • University of Virginia
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • William and Mary

Please refer to ASMEA Academic Council member Dr. Martin Kramer's article, "The incredible shrinking MESA" where he lists many of the universities and groups that have severed ties with MESA. In addition, we have compiled related articles on our website as a resource, including this article from The Algemeiner, "University of Arizona, Florida State University End MESA Ties Amid Israel Boycott Debate."

Below are various statements from institutions denouncing the referendum:

Association for Israel Studies:

Following MESA's adoption of a resolution boycotting Israeli universities - a resolution that constitutes a violation of academic freedom -AIS will end its formal status as an affiliated member with MESA until such time as it will revoke the resolution endorsing BDS.

Brandeis University, BrandeisNOW:

(March 24, 2022) The Middle Eastern Studies Association’s (MESA) announced on March 23, 2022, that a majority of its members voted in favor of a resolution calling for an academic boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Brandeis University condemns MESA’s boycott of institutions of higher education in Israel. The resolution attacks the fundamental principles of academic freedom and association to which MESA specifically refers in its mission statement, and to which Brandeis is committed. As a matter of principle, Brandeis University opposes academic boycotts of universities in any country. In light of this vote and the boycott, Brandeis dissociates from MESA and reaffirms our support for academic freedom.

New York University, Statement from NYU President Andrew Hamilton:

(March 30, 2022) NYU rejects and is deeply disappointed by the Middle East Studies Association's (MESA) recently passed resolution calling for an academic boycott of Israel. NYU's opposition to academic boycotts is longstanding (for example: here, here, here) and is grounded in the belief that academic boycotts are at odds with the principles of academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas.

NYU thinks it is deeply unfortunate for a scholarly organization to take this position. For the sake of academic freedom, we urge MESA to reconsider its ill-advised resolution.