The American Studies Association reaffirms our commitment to the project of international and transnational American Studies scholarship. As the oldest learned society in the United States committed to understanding American culture, politics, and history, we recognize the importance of fostering knowledge production and scholarship about the United States that is produced outside of the United States. Indeed, international American Studies programs, like the Salzberg Center in American Studies (1947), were formed alongside the institutionalization of American Studies departments in the U.S. academy. 

Since its founding in 1946, the Fulbright program in American Studies has provided a key link between U.S.-based and international American Studies programs through its sponsorship of bilateral scholarly exchange. Moreover, partnerships between international American Studies programs and the ASA, such as the one ASA has built with the Japanese American Studies Association, foster crucial intellectual insight. 

The ASA therefore opposes proposed reductions in U.S. support for international scholarly exchange. We support a robust Fulbright grants program and commit to growing international partnerships with emerging American Studies centers outside of the U.S. 

Our commitment to international and transnational scholarship compels us to oppose attacks on international and transnational humanities knowledge production and exchange. It compels us to oppose federally-imposed “travel bans” on students and scholars seeking to study, research and teach in the U.S. We object to the Federal government’s proposed reduction in international student enrollment at U.S. institutions of higher education. And we continue to oppose the targeting of scholars and the destruction of higher education infrastructure in the U.S. and globally, most profoundly in the case of scholasticide in Gaza.