In this insightful episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Dr. Asaf Romirowsky, Executive Director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, to explore the challenging landscape of university campuses today. Dr. Romirowsky sheds light on how “cancel culture” has begun to restrict open debate—particularly around Israel—making it increasingly difficult for students and faculty to engage in nuanced discourse on Israel and the Middle East. He discusses how the shift toward virtual learning is reshaping academic environments, often amplifying ideological echo chambers and limiting constructive exchange. Drawing upon his experiences as both a scholar and commentator, Romirowsky unpacks the rise of pro-BDS sentiment and its outsized influence on academic institutions, calling for renewed emphasis on intellectual honesty, balanced curricula, and free inquiry. With deep insight and analytical clarity, the episode offers a sobering—but hopeful—look at how academia can be a place of genuine dialogue, not ideological echo.
Asaf Romirowsky, PhD, is Executive Director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) and the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA). He is a senior nonresident research fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA) and an Affiliate Professor at the University of Haifa. Trained as a Middle East historian, Romirowsky earned his PhD from King’s College London and has published widely on the Arab-Israeli conflict, American foreign policy, and Zionist history. His work appears in leading outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The National Interest, and Tablet.