Love Lab cancels lecture with Israeli sociologist

A lecture by Israeli sociologist Eva Illouz is cancelled by the Love Lab, a research group within the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) that studies relationships and emotions. The team cancelled the speaker because she is affiliated with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, newspaper NRC reports.

Last year, the university cut institutional ties with, among others, the Hebrew University due to the war in Gaza. Individual collaborations between Erasmus University academics and the Israeli universities in question are still permitted, primarily because this would affect the academic freedom of EUR researchers.

Nonetheless, the Love Lab decided to cancel the lecture with Eva Illouz, which was scheduled for 21 November. According to NRC, the team said they felt ‘uncomfortable’ with the sociologist’s visit. Illouz holds both Israeli and French nationality and is affiliated not only with the Hebrew University but also with the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris.

‘Bona fide antisemitic’

The Love Lab project leader reportedly informed Illouz that the decision was not unanimous but had been made ‘democratically’, according to the newspaper. Illouz replied that she was ‘delighted’ that ‘a bona fide antisemitic decision’ had been made democratically. “It will surely make many people feel a lot more virtuous.”

A faculty spokesperson told EM in a written response that they ‘generally do not comment on issues between individuals’. “In situations where individual collaborations are in principle allowed, a decision may be made not to proceed if, for example, there is no consensus within a team. Teams are free to make such decisions.”

EM reached out to the Love Lab project leader for comment, but she was unavailable.