Academic Contact: A Theoretical Approach to Israel Studies in American Universities

Abstract

Israel studies courses and chairs have been proliferating in recent years in American universities, taught by American professors and visiting Israeli scholars. Such programs are funded and promoted by Israel advocates as a way of generating sympathy and enhancing understanding of Israel. On the other hand, the English fluency of particular Israeli scholars has enabled them to produce their academic output in English and become influential voices in their respective fields. Despite its significance, few academic studies of such programs and individuals have been carried out. Aiming to fill this lacuna, a case study of Israel studies courses and their instructors is carried out. The paper demonstrates that the academic arena is a space where Israel advocacy has turned to; a space that needs its specific tools and players. The study concludes that contact theory is an appropriate theoretical framework that can enhance the understanding of this phenomenon. Through Israel studies courses and their instructors, contact takes place between Israeli and American individuals and societies. This academic contact is not limited to the physical dimension, since in the academic context, knowledge production in the form of books and articles is itself an arena where ideas are presented and contact happens in the virtual dimension. This is why the concept of academic contact is suggested for describing this specific type of interaction and a new way of looking into how sympathy towards a political entity can be generated amongst the educated population of a second country.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4p243