Where is academic freedom now (Q&A)

This episode is a bit more different then our last ones, we get to travel a bit in time. Back in April, we hosted a live conversation on academic freedom, what it means, why it’s under attack, and how scholars navigate increasing political and institutional pressures. Revisiting it today reveals just how much the landscape has continued to deteriorate. With Alina Dragolea as host and contributions from Andrea Pető, Dina Gusejnova, Bernard Kleeberg, and Nadiya Kiss, we present here the Q&A section of the panel. Drawing on experiences from the US, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia, and beyond, the conversation explores how neoliberal governance, authoritarian politics, and market-driven university reforms erode critical knowledge, solidarity, and the public role of higher education. The discussion addresses self-censorship, resistance strategies, gender studies under attack, and the unequal burdens placed on students and academics.Produced as part of Protecting Academia at Risk project, with support from the Gerda Henkel Foundation.