ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and ideology. BDS targeting of university campuses, trade unions, leftwing and progressive political groups, churches, and social justice movements all provide it a ready-made environment for its campaign of delegitimization, demonization, and dehumanization of Israel. The organizational process of BDS assists its objectives. It is a highly decentralized and nimble organization, which allows it to make rapid adjustments and realize incremental successes. Changes in the culture of American academics have assisted the growth of BDS. The social movements of the 1960s, including the anti-war movement, the civil rights movements, and feminism, transformed the intellectual and political environments of colleges and universities. In light of growing concern and manifestations of anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, and anti-Zionism, legislation at the federal, state, and municipal levels began to take form in 2016.
