Professor Neve Gordon Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences

This recognition highlights Professor Gordon's significant contributions to the fields of human rights law and his extensive work on the ethics of violence and conflict.

Professor Gordon has been a member at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton and a visiting scholar at institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, Brown University, and SOAS and is renowned for his critical analysis settler colonialism in Israel–Palestine and the broader implications of human rights in contemporary politics. His first book, Israel’s Occupation, provided a detailed structural history of Israel’s mechanisms of control in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Human Right to Dominate  (co-authored with Nicola Perugini) describes how human rights can be used not only as tools of emancipation but also as mechanisms of subjugation and dispossession, while   Human Shields: A History of People in the Line of Fire (also co-written with Perugini), is the first ever book on the use of human shields, showing how they are used to shape the ethics of violence.

The Academy of Social Sciences, which represents the voice of the social sciences in the UK, announced the election of 45 leading social scientists to its Fellowship this autumn. The newly elected Fellows have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to research and the application of social sciences in addressing critical societal challenges.

Professor Gordon's work, particularly in the areas of international law and human rights, has been translated into ten languages, and has had a profound impact on both academic discourse and public policy. His current research focuses on academia in the face of genocide, examining how western academic institutions have responded to the horrific violence and destruction in Gaza

Will Hutton, President of the Academy, praised the newly elected Fellows, stating, "Their substantial contributions to social science and wider society have furthered our understanding of the social and environmental factors related to population health, changing cultures of inequality, children and young people’s experiences of gaming and gambling, the importance of diversity and inclusion in organisations, and how businesses can contribute to the sustainable development goals, amongst many others."

Professor Gordon joins an illustrious group of 1,500 Fellows whose expertise spans the breadth of the social sciences. The Fellowship is a recognition of excellence in social science research and practice, awarded through a rigorous peer-review process that highlights the impact of the Fellows’ work on society.

In response to this honour, Professor Gordon expressed his gratitude, stating, "It is a privilege to be recognised by the Academy of Social Sciences. This Fellowship is not only a personal achievement but also a testament to the importance of sustaining a critical research environment in the social sciences."

Professor Gordon’s contributions extend beyond academia. His writing regularly appears in prominent publications, including The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The New York Review of Books, and The London Review of Books, and he has served on the boards of a variety of charities, provided workshops to the foreign office and testified before UN committees.

The Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences is an accolade that acknowledges not only academic excellence but also the substantial contributions of social scientists to the betterment of society. With his election, Professor Gordon continues to be a leading voice in the ongoing dialogue on human rights and international humanitarian law, contributing to a deeper understanding of global justice.

For more information about the Academy of Social Sciences and its Fellows, please visit: https://acss.org.uk/news/the-academy-of-social-sciences-welcomes-45-outstanding-social-scientists-to-its-fellowship/