Universities in the spotlight: Are academic freedom in danger of being overturned?

Universities in the spotlight: Are academic freedom in danger of being overturned?

On August 6, 2025, an author reflects on the crucial role of public universities in the context of global challenges. He emphasizes the responsibility of universities for the common good and states that fundamental values ​​such as democracy and peace are no longer self-evident today. Pressure on American research universities has increased, particularly since Donald Trump's presidency. Populist movements in the US and Europe criticize universities as self-centered and accuse them of being too concerned with issues such as gender, racism and sexism. This goes hand in hand with broader social skepticism towards scientific institutions, which is expressed in an increasing distinction between facts and populist narratives. University of Potsdam reports that the author emphasizes the need to communicate the achievements of universities more clearly to society.

Since the 1980s, the author has been concerned with the question of how university investments flow back to society. He currently sees a threat to university autonomy and academic freedom, which are being reinforced by populist trends. Particular controversies, such as Hamas's recent attack on Israel, have fueled the discussion about the role of scientists and their responsibilities in public discourse. The South German highlights that populists reject scientific systems because they provide hard facts that can contradict their claims that go beyond simple, emotional narratives.

Democratic stability through science

In this critical environment, the author encourages universities to actively intervene in public discourse and bring fact-based arguments into the social debate. While there are overall better protection mechanisms for academic freedom in Germany, the dangers posed by populist ideologies, such as those of the AfD, are also clear here. This party launches attacks against climate research, gender research and more. The author compares current allegations against universities with the historical allegations from the 1970s and warns that cultural and social discourses could increasingly be shaped by bans on thinking and speaking. The Federal Agency for Civic Education describes Looking back, the changes in the university system and the challenges that this can create for science.

Science has long been viewed not only as an academic discipline, but also as the basis for stability and prosperity. Universities play a central role in the functioning of a democratic state. They are crucial for educating informed citizens and supporting the transfer of knowledge and technology, which in turn contributes to the stabilization of democracy. The author emphasizes that the university management has the responsibility to protect the limits of freedom of expression and academic freedom.

Challenges to academic freedom

In addition, the author warns against overly dominant topics such as gender and wokeness, which, in his opinion, could jeopardize university relevance. Political interventions, such as the funding of certain topics through third-party funding, influence what research is carried out, which can ultimately control the research topics of scientists. This is happening in the context of increasing pressure on scientists to focus on mainstream topics, which leads to a restriction of individual freedom of research.

The chronic underfunding of universities and the resulting increasing dependence on third-party funding threaten the intellectual and financial foundation of universities. The consequences include not only a declining number of professorships, but also an increasing influence of colleagues, which can lead to conformism. The author calls on scientists to communicate more actively and be defensive about academic freedom in order to arm themselves against populist attacks and increase awareness of the importance of facts in society.