Genocide Studies Departments Still Can’t Name Genocide in Gaza

In early June 2024, the Holocaust historian Raz Segal was offered a job directing the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota after roundly impressing an academic search committee. But as soon as the offer was extended, donors, politicians, and Jewish advocacy groups mobilized against his hire due to his public advocacy against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which included his Jewish Currents article “A Textbook Case of Genocide” from October 13th, 2023. Within a week, the university’s interim president intervened to rescind Segal’s offer. Now, two years later, Segal, an associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies and the endowed professor in the study of modern genocide at Stockton University, has reached a $250,000 settlement with the University of Minnesota.On this episode of On the Nose, senior editor Mari Cohen guest hosts to interview Segal about the lessons from his struggle at Minnesota and recent developments in the field of genocide studies, which Cohen reported on extensively in a 2024 Jewish Currents feature. In their conversation, Segal traces the history of genocide studies and the political contexts that have made it difficult for scholars in the field to adequately address Israeli violence, and reflects on “A Textbook Case of Genocide” nearly three years after its publication. Is genocide studies finally evolving to meet the moment? And what should we make of the fact that many liberal commentators are only now willing to accept the argument Segal made six days after October 7th?Thanks to Jesse Brennemen for editing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”Media Mentioned and Further Reading“A Textbook Case of Genocide,” Raz Segal, Jewish Currents “Can Genocide Studies Survive a Genocide in Gaza?,” Mari Cohen, Jewish Currents“An Israeli professor lost a prestigious US job offer after speaking out on Gaza. Now the university is paying him $250,000,” Alice Speri, The Guardian“A Holocaust Scholar Called Israel’s Actions in Gaza ‘Genocide.’ It Cost Him a Job Offer,” Maggie Hicks, Chronicle of Higher Education “Many American Jews sharply critical of Israel on Gaza, Post poll finds,” The Washington Post “Bad Memory,” Jewish Currents “Israel Must Stop Weaponizing the Holocaust,” Raz Segal, The Guardian“Tenured California Professor Fired Over Gaza Protest Wins Job Back,” Alice Speri, The Guardian The Problems of Genocide by Dirk MosesIAGS Resolution on the Situation in GazaConvention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide“Museum Statement on the Attack on Israel,” US Holocaust Memorial Museum“No, Israel is Not Committing Genocide in Gaza,” Bret Stephens, The New York Times“US Universities Are Seeing an Influx of ‘Antisemitism Centers.’ Some Jewish Scholars Are Worried,” Alice Speri, The Guardian“Disputed Gaza Language No Longer on Stockton Holocaust Studies Page,” Buzz Keough, The Press of Atlantic City Transcript forthcoming.