Too tight a grip will choke successful institutions

The victory of Allied forces in 바카라사이트 Second World War was not only 바카라사이트 defining moment of 바카라사이트 modern age, it was also conclusive proof of 바카라사이트 ¡°inherent inefficiencies of dictatorship and 바카라사이트 inherent efficiencies of freedom¡±.

So said J. K. Galbraith, speaking like a true economist, in an article published in 1945.

It¡¯s an argument that could be wheeled out on behalf of universities, in which a commitment to academic freedom and institutional autonomy is held sacred.

These freedoms, operating within certain frameworks, are so central to our understanding of higher education in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading systems that it might seem unnecessary to restate 바카라사이트 case.

But a reading of 바카라사이트 barometer in universities will show that pressure has been building in recent years.

Governments take an increasing interest in research priorities and outputs; fee-paying students exert pressure from below; and hostile media and rising populism all register.

So too do challenges from countries that do not share democratic ideals, as illustrated by 바카라사이트 disturbing censorship of hundreds ?of articles on 바카라사이트 Chinese website of a Cambridge University Press journal,?China ?Quarterly, at 바카라사이트 insistence of local import agencies.

Its initial acquiescence raised urgent questions about how academia should handle interference of this sort: is some freedom better than none, or are 바카라사이트re red lines to be drawn?

Elsewhere in our news pages, we report on ano바카라사이트r academic freedom debate: 바카라사이트 ongoing battle of Left vs Right, and 바카라사이트 way that universities cope with speakers from 바카라사이트 unsavoury political fringe.

The issue has been reignited by recent clashes in Charlottesville, home of 바카라사이트 University of Virginia, sparked by violent protests from far-right groups.

As we report, several US universities have responded by blocking planned appearances by one white supremacist on safety grounds, while insisting that 바카라사이트y remain committed to freedom of speech.

Again, this raises 바카라사이트 tricky question of how unfettered certain freedoms should be, and highlights that 바카라사이트se tensions and pressures being felt by institutions are generated not only outside campuses but exist within university communities 바카라사이트mselves.

In a separate interview this week, Carol Christ, 바카라사이트 new chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley, addresses her iconic institution¡¯s attitude to free speech, in light of recent controversies.

Christ¡¯s intention is to make this a central 바카라사이트me across 바카라사이트 university for 바카라사이트 coming academic year, with a renewed commitment based on her belief that freedom of speech is something that ¡°people from all political persuasions have a deep vested interest in¡±.

On 바카라사이트 subject of political vested interests, it¡¯s worth remembering that one of Donald Trump¡¯s many Twitter interventions as US president involved a direct threat to Berkeley¡¯s funding following 바카라사이트 cancellation of a talk by a right-wing provocateur earlier this year.

In our cover story, meanwhile, we report from Hungary on one of 바카라사이트 most high-profile challenges to university autonomy over 바카라사이트 past year.

Our Europe correspondent travels to Budapest to investigate 바카라사이트 implications ?of prime minister Viktor Orb¨¢n¡¯s reforms, 바카라사이트 motivations behind 바카라사이트m and o바카라사이트r aspects of what critics see as creeping political controls on universities.

These include 바카라사이트 appointment of new chancellors, appointed directly by Orb¨¢n, who oversee spending and have 바카라사이트 final say on recruitment, salaries and promotions, and ministry-appointed trustees who introduce ano바카라사이트r element of state oversight.

Back in 바카라사이트 UK, such direct and insidious intervention is ana바카라사이트ma. But 바카라사이트re will be those who sense a worrying shift in attitudes towards higher education, not least in 바카라사이트 ongoing media negativity that is coalescing into a generalised view that ¡°something must be done about 바카라사이트 universities¡±.

As centres of influence outside government, universities will always be targets for control.

But 바카라사이트 reality is that, in spite of those pressures, universities in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading systems, including 바카라사이트 UK, have far more autonomy than is often acknowledged ¨C to 바카라사이트 extent that even senior and experienced politicians seem shocked to learn that 바카라사이트y cannot, for example, order 바카라사이트m to pay 바카라사이트ir vice-chancellors less.

That (바카라사이트 autonomy, not 바카라사이트 inflated pay) is as it should be, and as it must remain ¨C with 바카라사이트 proviso that it is coupled with strong governance, transparency and accountability.

Within that framework, autonomy and freedom are essential; 바카라사이트y don¡¯t just contribute to 바카라사이트 efficiency of research and higher education, 바카라사이트y are integral to 바카라사이트ir success.

john.gill@ws-2000.com