soziologie.de
Objection by the German Sociological Association (DGS) to the Exclusion of the Israeli Sociological Society (ISS) from the International Sociological Association (ISA)
On June 29, 2025, the International Sociological Association (ISA) announced the suspension of the collective membership of the Israeli Sociological Society (ISS) and subsequently reaffirmed this decision. The German Sociological Association (DGS) explicitly rejects this decision by the ISA.
The ISA cited as its reason for suspending the ISS's membership that the ISS “has not taken a clear position condemning the dramatic situation in Gaza.” From the perspective of the DGS board, it is incompatible with the principles of an international scientific community—such as the ISA claims to represent—to demand a specific form of distancing from acts of war from the Israeli sociological society, or to hold it accountable for the actions of its country’s government. Such a demand has a discriminatory effect and undermines the principle of scientific cooperation on equal footing. Furthermore, it presumes the authority to decide from the outside which forms of protest are appropriate and possible under certain conditions. In this suspension, stricter criteria are being applied to the Israeli society than to societies from other countries.
The ISS responded to the exclusion with its own statement, which reads: “We share the deep concern and anguish over the horrifying scale of destruction, death, and human suffering inflicted upon the people of Gaza by the Israeli government. We also share the hope for an end to the violence and war, for an agreement that will secure the release of all Israeli hostages, and for a just political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
The DGS agrees with the ISS’s assessment that the suspension also massively weakens spaces for criticism and academic freedom in Israel. Sociological research should be promoted through collaboration, especially in times of armed conflict, authoritarianism, and growing antisemitism and racism, rather than being hindered.
The boycott of institutions is followed by the boycott of individuals; many Israeli academics are currently experiencing this more intensely. However, solidarity must not be limited to individuals but must also include the professional societies to which they belong and by which they are represented in international associations. The DGS speaks up for open discourse and for solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian colleagues, as well as with sociologists working under repressive and warlike conditions worldwide. The suspension of the ISS by the ISA undermines the fundamental principle of academic solidarity and sends a problematic signal by isolating academic organizations under political pressure instead of protecting them.
