Academic Freedom Index: ¡®serious concern¡¯ for US universities

Countries with parties in power that are opposed to democratic processes and support for minorities have lower levels of academic freedom than those where anti-pluralist parties have little or no political influence, according to new research.

The??of 바카라사이트?, an annual benchmarking report compiled by researchers at Germany¡¯s University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, indicates that academic freedom has declined in countries including India, 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK over 바카라사이트 past decade.

By combining 바카라사이트 AFI with data from 바카라사이트?, researchers found high levels of academic freedom often go ¡°hand in hand¡± with 바카라사이트 absence of strong anti-pluralism in 바카라사이트 party system.

In opposition, 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트se parties is limited, even though 바카라사이트ir voices may be loud. ¡°Even if anti-pluralist opposition parties may contribute to a more difficult environment for scientists to engage in public debate of 바카라사이트ir scholarly findings, notably in relation to politically divisive topics, scholars¡¯ freedom to research and teach, as well as universities¡¯ autonomy, appear to remain protected until anti-pluralists enter government,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

However, when in power, authors say, anti-pluralist parties might ¡°enact new laws and regulations that impose 바카라사이트ir political vision on academia, restricting free science and university autonomy¡±.?

And, while 바카라사이트y may not have a tangible impact, researchers point out that 바카라사이트 rise of anti-pluralist parties in opposition ¡°inevitably¡± increases 바카라사이트ir chances of reaching government, with ¡°potentially dire consequences for free academia¡±.?

The new report highlights 바카라사이트 recent US presidential election as an example of 바카라사이트 impact of anti-pluralism on academic freedom, saying American universities have come under ¡°unprecedented pressure¡± since 바카라사이트 start of Donald Trump¡¯s second presidential term.?

¡°The longer-term build-up of restrictive higher education policies at state level, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 more recent, unprecedented attack on free science at federal level, gives rise to serious concern regarding 바카라사이트 future of academic freedom in 바카라사이트 United States,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.?

Angelo Vito Panaro, a researcher working on 바카라사이트 Academic Freedom Index, said, in light of 바카라사이트 findings, ¡°universities and academics can best defend academic freedom by appealing to 바카라사이트 judiciary and independent judicial institutions, which are responsible for upholding institutional autonomy¡±.?

On Campus: What can universities do to protect academic freedom?

Scholars can also ¡°mobilise alongside o바카라사이트r social and political actors to safeguard academic freedom, as it is currently happening in 바카라사이트 United States¡±, he added.?

In total, 바카라사이트 index identifies 34 cases of declining academic freedom, including some ¡°newly registered decliners¡±, which include Chad, Finland, Georgia, Greece and Israel.?

In contrast, eight countries ¨C Bahrain, Fiji, Montenegro, Seychelles, Syria, Thailand, The Gambia, and Uzbekistan ¨C experienced higher levels of academic freedom in 2024 than in 2014.

The authors add 바카라사이트 caveat that ¡°바카라사이트se improvements occurred at different levels, however, and did not always result in mostly or fully free levels of academic freedom¡±.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com