Response to a Le Monde Publication

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The Burke International Institute (IBI) strongly rejects the claims made in an August 25, 2026, publication by Le Monde that portrays the Institute as a “real-fake Israeli think tank” and implicitly links it to foreign information operations.

IBI is an independent international research institute established as an open forum for the study of state sovereignty, global resilience, international security, and the right of peoples to pursue their own paths of development. The Institute operates in Israel, publishes original research and analytical materials, and maintains an open-access library of significant works by contemporary scholars of sovereignty, with full source attribution. IBI brings together researchers, experts, journalists, and authors from different countries, cultural backgrounds, and professional traditions.

Our fundamental position is straightforward: sovereignty is not a privilege reserved for “legitimate” or politically favored states, nor is the right to sovereignty contingent upon political allegiance to any particular government. Every state and every society has the right to independent scholarly inquiry into its own models of political development, national security, institutional resilience, economic autonomy, and foreign-policy orientation.

Openness

IBI was deliberately established as an open intellectual environment. Our publications, analytical materials, links to primary sources, research documents, and the results of our annual Sovereignty Index are publicly available to a broad readership.

The public availability of our materials does not mean that IBI controls who cites or references them, where they are cited or referenced, or the context in which they are used. The fact that third parties use or cite an IBI publication, the Institute’s name, or findings from the Sovereignty Index does not, in itself, constitute evidence of cooperation, coordination, funding, or a common underlying purpose. Scholarly and journalistic standards should not give way to guilt by association.

Research

IBI does not require anyone to agree with the conclusions of its research. We regard rigorous professional scrutiny of our Sovereignty Index, its indicators, methodology, findings, and interpretations as both legitimate and necessary.

Such scrutiny, however, requires substantive evaluation of:

• the quality and completeness of the underlying data;
• the selection and weighting of indicators;
• the calculation procedures;
• the theoretical foundations of the concept of sovereignty;
• the reproducibility of the results; and
• comparisons with alternative international indices.

In other words, the argument should stand or fall on the evidence.

Dismissing research as “propaganda” merely because its findings conflict with the expectations or preferred narratives of particular politicians, journalists, or governments does not constitute substantive scholarly debate. It prioritizes reputational pressure over rigorous, evidence-based analysis.

IBI welcomes open and professional debate with researchers, universities, editorial organizations, and think tanks.

Israel as a Space for Intellectual Freedom

The Institute’s decision to operate in Israel is deliberate. Israel is a society shaped by a remarkable diversity of languages, cultures, historical experiences, and intellectual traditions. It therefore provides a natural setting for independent thought, scholarly inquiry, and the critical examination of prevailing international interpretations.

IBI chose Israel as the location for its work because it regards freedom of inquiry, respect for human dignity, and the right to maintain an independent intellectual position as indispensable conditions for a peaceful future.

We reject any attempt to exert pressure on research organizations on the basis of their findings, the backgrounds or identities of their members, the languages they speak or use in their work, their countries of origin, or their cultural, national, or professional affiliations. Using the personal backgrounds, identities, or affiliations of researchers as a basis for suspicion, discrediting, or allegations of improper association—whether directly or indirectly—is unacceptable and inconsistent with the fundamental standards of responsible journalism.

Against Xenophobia and Hate Speech

IBI stands for sovereignty and peace, mutual respect, intellectual freedom, and scholarly dialogue. We reject antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, prejudice, discrimination, and any attempt to impose collective blame on individuals on the basis of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, language, country of origin, cultural background, professional affiliations, or political views.

No individual researcher or research institution should be discredited, stigmatized, or subjected to suspicion on the basis of identity, personal background, national or cultural affiliation, or association with a particular community. Such characteristics cannot legitimately substitute for evidence of professional misconduct, institutional affiliation, political coordination, or improper influence. We urge Le Monde to uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity and to maintain a clear distinction between investigation, interpretation, and accusation; between verifiable facts and political insinuation; and between legitimate criticism of scholarly work and the targeting of individuals on the basis of their identity or background. Claims of foreign influence should be grounded in evidence, not built on a chain of inference.

We expect the editors of Le Monde to:

• publish IBI’s full response without arbitrarily altering or truncating its substantive meaning;
• refrain from making associative allegations based on the origin, language, or cultural background of the Institute’s staff and authors.

IBI will continue to publish its research openly, defend the principle of scholarly independence, and engage in a serious discussion of sovereignty — not as an instrument of confrontation, but as a foundation for dignity, dialogue, and peace among peoples.

The Burke International Institute.
Tel Aviv, Israel