Philip G. Altbach: Academic Freedom in a Global Context: 21st Century Challenges (PDF)

Philip G. Altbach: Academic Freedom in a Global Context: 21st Century Challenges (PDF)
The NEA 2007 Almanac of Higher Education

Academic freedom is far from secure in many parts of the world, and in some places is under attack. Paradoxically, academic freedom is also more widespread in the early 21st century. This chapter highlights the challenges a complex academic and political environment poses to academic freedom.

First, let’s illustrate the problems.

• A respected Egyptian sociologist was arrested for “defaming” Egypt and a prominent Iranian social scientist was sentenced to death for calling for democracy. International protests led to the Egyptian’s release and the lifting of the Iranian’s sentence in 2004.
• The vice chancellor of a Hong Kong university warned a faculty pollster to suppress polls critical of the region’s chief executive.
• The Milosevic regime in Serbia routinely arrested academic opponents.
• The Suharto regime in Indonesia occasionally jailed or fired Indonesian academics taking part in the democracy movement. That movement succeeded in toppling a government hostile to freedom of expression.
• Opposition to government polices led to the summary firing of 40 Ethiopian academics and the jailing of some of them.
• Chinese academics routinely censor themselves. Criticism, loss of jobs, or even imprisonment, they understand, can result from publishing research or opinions that contradict the views of the government.
• Government pressure in Malaysia and Singapore makes some topics taboo for research and publication.

Professors are completely under the thumb of repressive authorities in only a few countries. But many academics are subject to similar political pressures and to occasional government crackdowns. Current and potential threats warrant heightened awareness—and often, positive steps—to ensure that academic freedom thrives.