dear all... and recent discussants... believing that most of our research has a connection to politics or indeed is driven by politics and also should make or comment on politics - the topic at hand seems to be one we should discuss... and then again, maybe not. if the list could find an agreement that this rather stupid/absurd call by the AUT to boycott touches on central matters of aoir and we do want to object.. well fine, lets do it.. I believe we as a list and organisation will not exclude any members from these universities from our list or indeed aoir! Nor do we encourage anybody doing so. AS stupid as this boycott may be - and it is a good issue for a debate - I can not see how it touches us as an organisation, other than that we are indirectly also asked to cancel our collaboration with any individual coming from these universitites. I we want to do one thing, we could state that we do not, ie. if there is a concensus on this... a connection and interest of aoir has to be made clear in order to react - Are there some members of aoir at these universities?? Everything else would be simple activism, just because... this does not keep us as individuals from opposing against such measures. I do not think Internet Research is a-political, or driven by poltical impetus, differing with every individual - but it certainly is not politics as such... And: Do these kind of boycotts actually help and do any good, especially in this case.... jsut some thoughts best nilz -- Dr. Nils Zurawski Universität Hamburg Inst. für kriminologische Sozialforschung Allendeplatz 1 20146 Hamburg Germany tel. +49 (0) 40 42838 6185 fax. +49 (0) 40 42838 2328 Projekt zu Videoüberwachung: http://www.surveillance-studies.org