David Hirsh
Encyclopedia
David Hirsh is a Lecturer in Sociology
at Goldsmiths College
, University of London
and the founder of Engage, a campaign against academic boycotts of Israel
.
Hirsh is a graduate of City University, London
. He holds an M.A. in Philosophy and Social Theory and a PhD from University of Warwick
. He wrote his dissertation on Crimes Against Humanity and International Law.
Hirsh won the Philip Abrams Prize for the best first book in sociology from the British Sociological Association
in 2004 for his book Law Against Genocide: Cosmopolitan trials. As well as an argument concerning the significance of "cosmopolitan law", this book contains a full account of the trial of Andrei Sawoniuk in Britain in 1999 for crimes committed as part of the Holocaust in Belarus
in 1942.
As a student of contemporary antisemitism, Hirsh is known for coining the term "Livingstone Formulation," after its effective use by the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone
. In Hirsh’s formulation, when an individual like Livingstone, with alleged antisemitic attitudes is confronted with this allegation, he immediately reverses the charge, accusing his accuser of "playing the antisemitic card" to stifle debate.
Hirsh has taken a leading role in opposing the proposed boycott of Israeli universities by British academics. Hirsh told The Guardian
, "It may not have anti-semitic motivations, but if you organise an academic boycott of Israeli Jewish academics but no-one else in the world, that is an anti-semitic policy."
Hirsh is the founding editor of the Engage
website, a resource for those working to understand and to oppose contemporary antisemitism. Along with several other Engage editors, he was a leading activist in the National Organisation of Labour Students
during the 1980s.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and the founder of Engage, a campaign against academic boycotts of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Hirsh is a graduate of City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
. He holds an M.A. in Philosophy and Social Theory and a PhD from University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. He wrote his dissertation on Crimes Against Humanity and International Law.
Hirsh won the Philip Abrams Prize for the best first book in sociology from the British Sociological Association
British Sociological Association
The British Sociological Association is a scholarly and professional society for sociologists in the United Kingdom, and was founded in 1951. They publish the academic journals Sociology, Work, Employment and Society and Cultural Sociology as well as their membership newsletter...
in 2004 for his book Law Against Genocide: Cosmopolitan trials. As well as an argument concerning the significance of "cosmopolitan law", this book contains a full account of the trial of Andrei Sawoniuk in Britain in 1999 for crimes committed as part of the Holocaust in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
in 1942.
As a student of contemporary antisemitism, Hirsh is known for coining the term "Livingstone Formulation," after its effective use by the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
. In Hirsh’s formulation, when an individual like Livingstone, with alleged antisemitic attitudes is confronted with this allegation, he immediately reverses the charge, accusing his accuser of "playing the antisemitic card" to stifle debate.
Hirsh has taken a leading role in opposing the proposed boycott of Israeli universities by British academics. Hirsh told The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, "It may not have anti-semitic motivations, but if you organise an academic boycott of Israeli Jewish academics but no-one else in the world, that is an anti-semitic policy."
Hirsh is the founding editor of the Engage
Engage (organization)
Engage is an organisation which publishes materials in opposition to what they see as left and liberal antisemitism, primarily in UK academic institutions. The group is made up of left-wing academic who oppose boycotts of Israel...
website, a resource for those working to understand and to oppose contemporary antisemitism. Along with several other Engage editors, he was a leading activist in the National Organisation of Labour Students
National Organisation of Labour Students
National Organisation of Labour Students may refer to:* Labour Students, a student organisation affiliated to the British Labour Party* National Organisation of Labor Students, a former factional grouping operating within the National Union of Students of Australia...
during the 1980s.