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Category: Academic Freedom

This series fosters scholarly and intellectual exchange on questions of academic freedom and freedom of thought in Europe and across the world. It publishes research papers, reports, talks, and thought pieces on academic freedom. The series has been initiated and is curated by former Fellows of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. It underlines the commitment of this Institute for Advanced Study to free research, thought, and artistic creation that has been part of its mission ever since its foundation. The program re:constitution – Exchange and Analysis on the Rule of Law in Europe at the Forum Transregionale Studien is also a contributing partner in the series, based on the re:constitution Seminar “Resisting Multiple Pressures – Perspectives on Academic Freedom in Europe” (Ljubljana, 11-12 November 2021). The series welcomes contributions (of up to 7,000 characters); all contributions will be submitted to the editorial team for approval and revision.

Contact: Daniel Schönpflug at daniel.schoenpflug@wiko-berlin.de.

A sign on a construction site showcasing pictures of the planed building.

Castles of Illiberal Thought. The Rise and Role of Government-Organised Non-Governmental Organisations in Academic Contexts

By Etienne Hanelt. Academic freedom has been significantly curtailed in recent years, albeit in Hungary, not the EU at large. The Hungarian government has done this both through pressure on academic institutions on the one hand and the creation and expansion of illiberal Government-Organised Non-Governmental Organisations (GONGOs). This article looks at Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), an Orbán-linked “think tank” and academy for nurturing illiberal elites. “Experts” from these institutes are often invited in Hungarian public television to present, elaborate and support the government’s positions.

A sign on a construction site showcasing pictures of the planed building.

Az illiberális gondolkodás bástyái: A kormány által szervezett nem kormányzati szervezetek felemelkedése és szerepe az akadémiai térben

[HUNGARIAN] By Etienne Hanelt. Academic freedom has been significantly curtailed in recent years, albeit in Hungary, not the EU at large. The Hungarian government has done this both through pressure on academic institutions on the one hand and the creation and expansion of illiberal Government-Organised Non-Governmental Organisations (GONGOs). This article looks at Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), an Orbán-linked “think tank” and academy for nurturing illiberal elites. “Experts” from these institutes are often invited in Hungarian public television to present, elaborate and support the government’s positions.

Street sign reading "Academic Freedom Rd" in front of greenery

Academic Freedom and Knowledge Production in Ghana: An Interview with Chika C. Mba

In this conversation, MIASA Academic Coordinator Dr. Agnes Schneider-Musah interviews Dr. Chika Mba, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana and MIASA’s Principal Investigator for Human Rights, on issues concerning Academic Freedom and Knowledge Production in Ghana. They touch on the state of Academic Freedom in Ghana, the history of Ghanaian universities and the necessity of a decolonial approach in science.

Understanding the Evolution and Challenges of Academic Freedom in Germany: Insights from André Bank

In this conversation, German political scientist and authoritarianism researcher André Bank speaks with Julius Dihstelhoff, MECAM’s Academic Coordinator, about the current state of academic freedom in Germany. Banks reflects on how historical developments of academic freedom have shaped the present landscape of higher education and emphasizes the importance of safeguarding these freedoms to foster a dynamic and diverse academic environment. He also addresses the ongoing challenges faced by scholars and institutions, including political pressures and social changes that impact academic discourse and inquiry.

Academic Freedom in Tunisia: Historical Contexts and Contemporary Challenges

In this conversation, Emna Beltaief, Vice President of the Université de Tunis, speaks with Julius Dihstelhoff, MECAM’s Academic Coordinator, on the state of academic freedom in Tunisia. They explore the historical trajectory from the Bourguiba and Ben Ali regimes to the post-2011 era, discussing the persistent tensions between academic freedom and political pressures.  Emna Beltaïef emphasizes the urgent need to protect academic spaces from political interference to ensure a thriving, critical academic environment.

Decolonizing Academia at MIASA and MECAM: Academic Freedom and Research Ethics in Dialogue

By Julius Dihstelhoff & Agnes Schneider-Musah. On October 10, 2024, scholars from the Merian Centres for Advanced Studies (MIASA and MECAM) gathered at the Legon Campus of the University of Ghana in Accra for a roundtable on “Academic Freedom and Research Ethics: Dynamics in Ghana, Tunisia, and Germany.” As a contribution to the 2024 German Science Year theme “Freedom,” the event provided a platform for lively discussions on key issues in academic practice. The roundtable explored three primary themes, addressing the challenges and opportunities surrounding academic freedom.

“Resisting Multiple Pressures – Perspectives on Academic Freedom in Europe” – Side Note on the re:constitution Seminar

By László Detre. re:constitution is a joint program of the Forum Transregionale Studien and Democracy Reporting International, funded by the Stiftung Mercator. Re:constitution awards fellowships, inspires and organizes topical seminars, and offers fact-based analysis on and around the rule of law and democracy in the European Union.

On the Margins of the University: Academics in the Face of Power in post-2016 Turkey

By Alihan Mestci. Culture is a battle that “has not yet been won” – this has been iterated on numerous occasions by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ever since late 2016, the year of the July 15th coup attempt. The state of emergency has given a legal blank check for thousands of dismissals in the civil service as well as for the criminalization and marginalization of dissenting voices from the media and civil society.