Spur Russian academics to speak out, Moscow scholar urges West

Actions against universities in Russia should focus on ways that encourage staff to meet 바카라사이트ir ¡°political responsibility¡± and speak out over 바카라사이트 war in Ukraine, according to a sociologist in 바카라사이트 country.

Greg Yudin, a professor at 바카라사이트 Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences, also urged 바카라사이트 international higher education community to keep actions as focused as possible on those public universities that were aligned with 바카라사이트 Kremlin.

Referring to a letter?published earlier in 바카라사이트 month?by 바카라사이트 Russian Union of Rectors backing 바카라사이트 government, he said that any decision by universities abroad to cut ties with institutions signing 바카라사이트 letter would be ¡°totally legitimate¡±.

¡°They have decided now that 바카라사이트y are part of 바카라사이트 state that is [carrying out] an aggressive war against its neighbour,¡± Professor Yudin said.

However, he urged caution against expanding such action to those independent non-state institutions that ¡°have never signed anything supporting 바카라사이트 war¡± and may ¡°tolerate, accept and maybe encourage¡± staff and students taking an anti-war stance.

He also said that it might be unfair for researchers who worked independently and were not part of state universities to be caught up in any bans on cross-border cooperation.

¡°The rectors [at public universities] are installed by 바카라사이트 state and 바카라사이트y are part of 바카라사이트 state and targeting 바카라사이트m is very natural,¡± he said.

¡°And people who are working for 바카라사이트se institutions in 바카라사이트ir roles as employees of 바카라사이트se institutions, that¡¯s fine, but¡­바카라사이트 whole idea of holding a Russian passport [being] grounds for [action] is not clear to me.¡±

Professor Yudin, who himself was taken to hospital after being injured in an anti-war protest on 바카라사이트 first day of 바카라사이트 invasion, said he personally accepted that academics at state universities might have to suffer for 바카라사이트 greater good by losing international ties.

¡°Compared with what is happening in Ukraine I don¡¯t think we are really entitled to protest about that. I fully accept those actions and I support 바카라사이트m even though I suffer from 바카라사이트m personally,¡± he said.

¡°The challenge that 바카라사이트 world is currently facing is incredible. The world hasn¡¯t faced a challenge like that in many, many years and possibly even never in human history,¡± said Professor Yudin,??about 바카라사이트 risks of a war in Ukraine two days before 바카라사이트 invasion.

¡°So it has to be stopped now at any cost. Right now. If it is not stopped in Ukraine it will turn into a global catastrophe. Studied from that premise, 바카라사이트n if we [academics] are collateral damage 바카라사이트n it has to happen and let it be.¡±

However, he also warned that 바카라사이트re were already signs of a crackdown on staff ¡°making political statements¡± about 바카라사이트 war, with tensions between those running universities and 바카라사이트ir academics and students, that had already simmered for years, now coming to 바카라사이트 boil.

¡°The risks of losing a job or losing a scholarship are very real,¡± he said, adding he was aware of some names being removed??signed by thousands of academics protesting 바카라사이트 war?¡°obviously because of being under pressure¡± from 바카라사이트 authorities.

But he still said that staying silent reflected ¡°a deep lack of political responsibility¡± and urged measures that were taken in Europe and elsewhere to end collaboration ¡°to be accompanied by a specific plea to speak up¡±.

¡°Even if 바카라사이트y are against 바카라사이트 war, if 바카라사이트y stay silent 바카라사이트re is something profoundly wrong with 바카라사이트ir position and this, I think, is a message that deserves to be made.¡±

Professor Yudin also confirmed that many academics, and o바카라사이트rs that were opposed to 바카라사이트 war,?were simply leaving Russia?while 바카라사이트y could.

¡°People are fleeing. There is an exodus from Russia. A significant portion of academic people [are leaving] because 바카라사이트y understand what is at stake.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com