A Collision of Frames: The BDS Movement and Its Opponents in the United States

Abstract

In the United States, the “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” (BDS) movement is increasingly successful, especially on college campuses. Taking a panel discussion at Brooklyn College as a case study, this chapter analyzes the discourse surrounding BDS debates by way of a frame analysis of the positions of BDS advocates and BDS opponents. It shows that some frames are bound to clash, such as those highlighting Antiracism versus Antisemitism, or Jewish identity versus Jewish self-hatred. Others, however, mobilize shared values of academic freedom and human rights and could potentially offer a space for dialogue.