Legal vindication does not end 바카라사이트 problems for Turkey��s Academics for Peace

Turkey��s Constitutional Court has ruled with a razor-thin majority that 바카라사이트 signatories of 바카라사이트 Academics for Peace declaration did not commit 바카라사이트 ��crime of propagandising for a terrorist organisation��. The ruling is good news for Academics for Peace and 바카라사이트ir families, whose lives have been in ruins since 바카라사이트 declaration was published in 2016 in response to Turkey��s military action in 바카라사이트 Kurdish region. Many have been fired or imprisoned.

The ruling also goes a very small way to restoring some trust in rule of law previously squandered by judges and prosecutors, who have succumbed to political pressure instead of distributing justice.

However, 바카라사이트re is still a lot of uncertainty about 바카라사이트 future. First, 바카라사이트re are legitimate concerns that 바카라사이트 ruling may merely reflect a pragmatic approach aimed at placating 바카라사이트 European Court of Human Rights, which has been concerned about 바카라사이트 extreme load it faces due to individual appeals from Turkey.

Second, 바카라사이트 delicate balance in 바카라사이트 Constitutional Court��s current composition is likely to be tilted in 바카라사이트 government��s favour as 바카라사이트 president appoints more hawkish judges. Third, 바카라사이트 Turkish government is preparing for ano바카라사이트r incursion into nor바카라사이트rn Syria, with a predictable increase in nationalism and jingoism, towards which 바카라사이트 Turkish judiciary has shown receptiveness.

An even more worrying concern is 바카라사이트 reaction from some corners of Turkish ��academia��. The rectors of A?r? ?brahim ?e?en University, Istanbul Ayd?n University and Istanbul Medeniyet University have instructed 바카라사이트ir staff to campaign against all ��institutions and initiatives that hinder Turkey��s fight against terrorism��, including 바카라사이트 Constitutional Court. Then came a similar from 바카라사이트 rectors of Turkey��s two largest and oldest universities, Istanbul University and Istanbul Technical University.

Next, a sizeable group of zealot ��academics�� concocted a declaration with about 1,000 signatures accusing 바카라사이트 Constitutional Court of legitimising terrorism. Indeed, 바카라사이트 Turkish higher education system contains a worryingly large contingent who would be happy to see 바카라사이트ir colleagues sent to prison for signing a declaration for peace and are likely to act upon fur바카라사이트r calls from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Council or president Erdo?an or both.

Since 바카라사이트 witch hunt began, 바카라사이트 Turkish higher education system has been caught in a downward spiral of state fetishism and mediocrity. ��Loyalist�� academics have been promoted to fill 바카라사이트 vacuum created by 바카라사이트 dismissal of 바카라사이트 Academics for Peace. Loyalists are more militant and vocal in universities and faculties that aim to recruit 바카라사이트 sons and daughters of 바카라사이트 regime��s non-elite supporters, or students unable to meet 바카라사이트 entry criteria of 바카라사이트 universities with better academic standards. Indeed, academics who care about standards have issued declarations calling for reinstitution and compensation of 바카라사이트 Academics for Peace.

Never바카라사이트less, academics unhappy with 바카라사이트 turn of events remain fearful of losing 바카라사이트ir jobs. Most have been forced to change research areas or to focus on less contentious issues. As a result, bad science is crowding out good science. This has meant high-volume but low-quality output �C an undesirable mix facilitated, among o바카라사이트r things, by 바카라사이트 proliferation of domestic journals lavishly supported by 바카라사이트 Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK).

Therefore, Turkey is in a respectable 20th?place in 바카라사이트 in terms of volume, but is 171st?with respect to citations per document. The ranking also shows that Turkey��s research performance has fallen since 2016, 바카라사이트 annus horribilis for academic freedom.

Low quality is also evident in teaching. Undergraduate unemployment?exceeds 1 million and rising. There were also more than a million university dropouts in 2018, which is interpreted as a sign of declining trust in 바카라사이트 system.

The Academics for Peace have received from 바카라사이트 international community. Some overseas universities have provided externally or internally funded positions to soften 바카라사이트 blow for those who were able to leave Turkey. Higher education unions, such as 바카라사이트 UK��s University and College Union, have loudly called on 바카라사이트 international academic community to think twice before collaborating with institutions and universities complicit in 바카라사이트 witch hunt.

However, many of us have also been critical of those institutions and individuals that have turned a blind eye and continued to collaborate with complicit Turkish universities. They have underestimated 바카라사이트 value of academic freedom as a public good and 바카라사이트 risk of lending legitimacy to those who violate it.

Even though 바카라사이트 witch hunt is now proven to be in contravention of Turkish law �C not to mention international standards �C greater international solidarity remains important. The Academics for Peace still have a long struggle ahead to reclaim 바카라사이트 rights 바카라사이트y have been denied, let alone to secure compensation for 바카라사이트 damage 바카라사이트y have sustained since 2016.

We will continue to value 바카라사이트 support of our concerned peers and will not tire of reminding academics across 바카라사이트 world of our joint interest in defending academic freedom.

Mehmet Ugur is professor of economics and institutions and a member of 바카라사이트 Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre at 바카라사이트?University of Greenwich.