Education
In Philosophy and Social Theory and a Doctor of Philosophy from University of Warwick.
In Philosophy and Social Theory and a Doctor of Philosophy from University of Warwick.
Hirsh is a graduate of City University, London. He holds an Master of Arts He wrote his dissertation on Crimes Against Humanity and International Law. The book, an argument concerning the significance of "cosmopolitan law", also contains a full account of the trial of Anthony Sawoniuk in Britain in 1999 for crimes committed as part of the Holocaust in Belarus in 1942.
As a student of contemporary antisemitism, Hirsh is known for coining the term "Livingstone Formulation," after its effective use by the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.
In Hirsh"s formulation, when an individual like Livingstone, with alleged antisemitic attitudes is confronted with this allegation, he immediately reverses the charge, accusing his accuser of "playing the antisemitic card" to stifle debate. Hirsh is the founding editor of the Engage website, a resource for those working to understand and to oppose contemporary antisemitism.
Along with several other Engage editors, he was a leading activist in the National Organisation of Labour Students during the 1980s. Hirsh has taken a leading role in opposing the proposed boycott of Israeli universities by British academics.
Hirsh told The Guardian, "lieutenant may not have anti-semitic motivations, but if you organise an academic boycott of Israeli Jewish academics but no-one else in the world, that is an anti-semitic policy."
In a heated argument with Tom Hickey of the University of Brighton at a debate in 2010, who is a leader in the campaign to boycott Israel, Hirsh claimed (after professor Mary Davis of London Metropolitan University stated she had been subject to intimidation due to her opposition to boycotts of Israel):
Tom Hickey subsequently denounced Hirsh, arguing that Hirsh"s claims were in fact "a traducement of the truth and it"s a straightforward lie and the author knows lieutenant
There has been no intimidation – the union and the chief executive would not allow lieutenant" Hirsh responded by stating:".