In Uncertain Soil
The Erosion of Academic Freedom Worldwide
The state of academic freedom worldwide is increasingly under strain, with multiple recent monitoring reports pointing to both long-term erosion and acute, conflict-driven risks. The Academic Freedom Index 2026 highlights a continued global decline in academic freedom over the past decade, with notable reductions in many countries across all regions, driven by political polarization, authoritarian governance, and weakening institutional protections. Similarly, the Free to Think Report 2025 documents persistent threats to scholars and universities, including imprisonment, censorship, violence, and attacks on campus communities, underscoring that higher education remains vulnerable in contexts of repression and armed conflict. Complementing these findings, the Academic Freedom Monitor 2025 emphasizes the uneven protection of academic freedom even in democratic systems, noting growing concerns about external interference, self-censorship, and institutional pressure. Taken together, these reports suggest that while academic freedom remains a formally recognized principle in most parts of the world, its practical realization is increasingly contested and uneven, requiring sustained legal, institutional, and international efforts to safeguard it.
Find out more about the state of academic freedom around the world here:
