Where is antisemitism in EDI discourses in Canadian Higher Education

Equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonizing (EDI/D) became a pertinent issue for Canadian higher education in redressing the ongoing effects of historical exclusion and marginalization of Indigenous Peoples and people from equity-seeking groups. Yet while Canadian universities are becoming more active in promoting EDI/D, little attention is paid to antisemitism in policy and action plans or their development. Academics who bring up antisemitism in their work on anti-racism are often told this is not part of the EDI agenda. This talk suggests that the omission is not accidental. Prevalent conceptions of race (grounded in Whiteness) and decolonizing (grounded in settler-colonialism) in EDI/D discourses are insufficient in addressing the historical, institutional, ideological, and cultural underpinnings of antisemitism. Acting against antisemitism does not mean justifying Israeli state politics or shielding Israel from critique. Yet the complexity of distinguishing between antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and political pressures from the left and right might discourage universities from incorporating antisemitism in EDI policies and action plans. The consequences of this omission became urgently apparent following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the following cycle of violence. Questions about how universities address antisemitism are tangible for Jewish students, faculty, and staff who are facing hostility on campus because of their Jewish identity. This talk will unpack the reasons for omitting antisemitism from EDI discourses and suggest ways to move forward.