Grey zones, red lines: defending academic freedom in law and politics
Academic freedom is under pressure worldwide as various illiberal forces seek to discredit, discipline and control research and education. Migrant scholars (including students) are disproportionately affected at a time when their transnational perspectives, knowledge and connections are needed for scientific advancement and democratic resilience. In Germany, despite constitutional protection for academic freedom, they face uncertain grey zones when they express political opinions as political taboos (red lines) proliferate and shift, undermining academic freedom, trust in the law and efforts to internationalize research. This report analyses how migrant scholars have experienced the emerging grey zones, the nature of the restrictions and the legal instruments that scholars can use to defend their freedom.
We would like to thank the following individuals for their valuable contributions at different stages of the project:
Kauther Nour Alhusainy, Ana Werkstetter Caravaca, Talim Ehring, Andrew Gilbert, Flora Jansen, Fatima Karmid, Victoria Lacis, Angela Last, Sowmya Maheswaran, Andrea Muehlebach, Valentin Niebler, Xin Pan, Tayma Saleh, Benjamin Schuetze, Tu Siqi, Duan Zhipeng
Important notice:
The legal information provided here is intended for general informational purposes only. It is meant to offer guidance and orientation, but it does not constitute legal advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified legal professional.
ECCHR does not provide individual legal advice.
