The Nordic Summer University was created in 1950 to promote peace through scientific and democratic collaboration. In light of the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian population of Gaza by the Israeli military, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and pro-Palestinian activists in the Nordic region, Baltic region, in Israel and beyond. As the majority of the population in Gaza enters the last stage of malnutrition, the Israeli parliament votes in favour of the annexation of the West Bank, and Israel continues to deny the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the Nordic Summer University assumes its responsibility not to remain silent. As a self-governed, democratic organisation aspiring to live by the values of active citizenship, equality, and inclusion, we speak out against Israel’s actions and against the complicity–including direct arms sales and academic collaborations–of nation-states in the Global North.
Given our goal of promoting the values of self-determined, democratic education and research, the Nordic Summer University condemns the systematic obliteration of all universities and educational infrastructure in Gaza, as well as the global movement to suppress the academic and intellectual freedom to call for ceasefire and justice against crimes against humanity. In addition, the genocidal politics contributes to the destruction of Israeli democracy. The Nordic Summer University thus commits itself to being a space where freedom of expression, including of Palestinian solidarity, will be safeguarded. This is a consequence of our belief that free science is promoted by collaboration with civil society.
In furthering our commitment to democratic research, the Nordic Summer University also makes the following commitments:
- To continuously compare our funding sources against the lists of targets for divestment and boycott maintained by the UN Human Rights Council in order to ensure that no funders are implicated in unlawful occupation, racial segregation, apartheid, or the genocide of the Palestinian population;
- To facilitate the development of institutional collaborations with Palestinian academics; to seek to secure funding for scholarships to Palestinian scholars in future sessions; and to invite Palestinian scholars as part of the Summer School fellowship.