HCS Statement of support for faculty speaking about Palestine/Israel
The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies is resolute in its support for all faculty who speak up about the current war in Palestine/Israel, and who bring their expertise to bear on public conversations. It is not only permissible, but essential for scholars to situate the current war in its broad historical contexts, including those of settler colonialism, US imperialism in the Middle East, and global movements for Indigenous rights. In the wake of the TRC here in Canada, anti-colonial solidarity is not simply a legitimate ethical position, but a critical analytical perspective that has opened up entire bodies of scholarship. This scholarship remains occluded in public debates by nationalist frameworks that present the situation in Palestine, as in other world regions, as one of “national conflict” or primordial enmity. Scholars—and especially those whose research and/or lived experience bear on these issues—have a responsibility to bring their knowledge to the public sphere and question myopic and amnesiac discussions. Their voices cannot be silenced.
Welcome to the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies!
Individually and combined, the five academic programs that comprise HCS — Classical Studies, Food Studies, Global Asia Studies, History, and Women's and Gender Studies – offer a critical lens on the processes that shape our world, situating them in multiple global and local contexts. Our programs equip students with a range of skills such as critical thinking, oral and written communication, collaboration, and research and analytical skills, that will prepare them to be successful in a variety of fields including law and public policy, government, education, community and social services, communications, business, management and much more.
We invite you to discover and learn more about our fascinating programs and courses, and to get in touch if you have any questions.
