FEATURED PANEL: Academic Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights: Comparative Perspectives

Abstract

The whirlwind of changes taking place in the international community reminds us of the importance of staying mindful, alert and committed to the fundamental values that the global academic community holds dear. The values include academic freedom and human rights protection which belong to the large rubric of democracy. While the election results of France and the Netherlands reassure us of the majority will to curb rising nationalism, we cannot put our anxiety to a rest. The anxiety reflects the global shockwave originated from the Brexit and electoral victory of Donald Trump last year. In this shifting milieu we have been witnessing the visible erosion of democratic norms in various parts of the world. We are thus increasingly concerned about the grave consequences of the precarious political upheavals for academia. Where are we headed? What can be done? Where to draw the line between academic research and political activism? How to address the controversial topics pertaining to academic freedom (ex. freedom of speech, etc.) and human rights violations (ex. defamation, etc.)? How to negotiate between normative ideals and reality of academic survival? This Panel is devoted to the issues on academic freedom, and it aims to address the following specific questions: ·What are the strategies to better protect academic freedom? ·How can we contextualize the increasing challenges? ·How can we promote solidarity across the global academic community? ·What are the diagnoses as well as prognoses of increasing challenges?