Mon Sep 09 16:00:02 UTC 2024: ## Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests Unlikely to Sway Voters, IR Experts Say

**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – As the new academic year begins, pro-Palestinian protests, similar to those that swept across U.S. campuses in the spring, are expected to re-emerge, raising questions about their impact on the 2024 presidential election. A recent survey by the Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) Project at William & Mary sheds light on the views of international relations (IR) scholars on the issue.

The survey, conducted in June and July, revealed that while IR experts overwhelmingly disapprove of ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza, they believe the protests will hurt the Democratic Party’s chances in November. Despite the widespread disapproval of Israeli actions, experts remain doubtful about the effectiveness of the protests in achieving their goals, including university divestment from companies doing business with Israel.

While there is a partisan divide, both Democrats and Republicans agree that the issue is highly significant in the upcoming election. Notably, the experts believe that the protests are more likely to push voters towards the Republican candidate.

“The protests may even make U.S. voters more likely to support Trump in the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5,” the survey concludes.

The IR experts are also divided on the issue of university divestment. While a sizable portion of the scholars support divestment, others oppose it. However, they overwhelmingly agree that academic collaborations with Israeli institutions should not be boycotted.

The TRIP Project survey highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on U.S. politics. It raises questions about the role of campus protests and academic perspectives in shaping policy and electoral outcomes.

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