Empowering the lived experience voices of Arabs but not Jews: The attempted subversion of universal social work values by the extremist Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement

Abstract

Social work as a profession stands for universal social justice and human rights. Yet it is increasingly being pressured by representatives of the extremist Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign to privilege the national and human rights of one people (i.e. Arabs) over those of another people (Jews). This paper examines several interventions by the BDS movement within social work organisations and journals in Britain aimed at suppressing recognition of Jewish lived experience of racism and oppression. Some conclusions are drawn about the potentially adverse implications of this proposed hierarchy of oppression for the integrity of social work ethics and practice.