The article argues that academic freedom in the US is under threat, particularly due to interference from the Trump administration. This includes actions such as external oversight of admissions, faculty hiring, and curriculum.
The author traces the history of academic freedom back to medieval universities and connects it to the Enlightenment ideals promoted by Francis Bacon. The modern research university is presented as a crucial engine for innovation and progress.
The author highlights the significant contributions of American universities to technological advancements, including the internet, lithium-ion batteries, and CRISPR gene editing. The suppression of academic freedom is presented as detrimental to innovation and economic prosperity.
The article contrasts the US situation with countries experiencing restrictions on academic freedom, such as China, Iran, and Russia. It emphasizes that these restrictions stifle innovation and lead to the emigration of talented researchers.
Conversely, the article cites South Korea and Taiwan as examples of how lifting restrictions on academic freedom fosters economic growth and technological advancement.
Academic freedom is defined as the freedom to express and debate ideas without fear of censorship or reprisal, to explore, to question authority, and to be one's true self. It is seen as essential for the flourishing of higher education.
The author warns against the gradual erosion of academic freedom through various means, such as the undue influence of money, attacks on the free press, and the suppression of dissent, drawing parallels to the dystopian novel 1984.
The article concludes with a strong call to protect academic freedom as essential for the future of the US and for maintaining the values of freedom and intellectual pursuit.