Academic freedom entails that both research and teaching should be intellectually and morally independent of all political and economic interests, that teaching and research should be inseparable, and that the university should be a site for free enquiry and debate, with an openness to dialogue and rejection of intolerance. This could be read at the website for the Norwegian governmental directorate of higher education. The content of the site is building on the Magna Charta Universitatum, a charter signed by European university rectors when the University of Bologna celebrated its 900 years anniversary in 1988. The Bonn Declaration on Freedom of Scientific Research launched at the Ministerial Conference on the European Research Area in 2020, states that freedom of academic research requires the freedom of expression, the freedom of association, the right to education, the right to physical mobility and virtual interaction, the right to freely define research questions, choose and develop theories, gather empirical material and employ sound academic research methods. It includes the right to question accepted wisdom, the right to bring forward new ideas, and the right to share, disseminate and publish research results.
The Dual Nature of Academic Freedom
Academic freedom is both a collective and an individual right. It includes the freedom of thought and intellectual creativity of individuals. In order to obtain this, individuals need freedom and security. Quoting from the Bonn Declaration: “Freedom of scientific research stans for openness, exchange, excellence, internationalism, diversity, equality, integrity, curiosity, responsibility and reflexivity”.
Legal Limits on Freedom in Norway
In Norwegian legislation, Academic freedom is limited by the health research act, the research ethics act, the government employees act, the equality and anti-discrimination act, the working environment act, the security act and the export control act. This means that the value of academic freedom legally speaking can be contested and framed through the intersection with other principles, connected to for instance research ethics and anti-discrimination legislation. The dilemmas such cases represent when they arise must be carefully evaluated and dealt with as part of sound and acknowledged research practices.
Insights from the 2022 White Paper
In 2022, a Norwegian governmental white paper on Academic freedom of expression was launched, and one of its findings was that the knowledge about academic freedom was too low among both researchers and university leadership in Norway.
The Global Landscape in 2025
At the moment, late February 2025, many are concerned about academic freedom in research and teaching connected to political and economical developments. Indirectly, political censorship has been implemented in the US, and the full effect this will have on our US colleagues and partners has yet to be seen. Research on the Middle East and on narratives and activities connected to this area are under heavy pressure in the US, as well as several places in Europe. Colleagues in countries directly affected by wars, including Ukraine, but also in Palestine and Sudan, may be prevented to do their work physically. Researchers in countries like Israel and Lebanon may find it very hard to find enough peace of mind to actually do their work. In the UK and in the Netherlands, many colleagues are experiencing job cuts, including in our fields of religion and theology. I could go on presenting examples. All these developments influence us to a larger or lesser degree, because research is a transnational activity.
Norwegian Challenges and Influences
In Norway, we have our own explicit challenges: Strong ties to Norwegian export industry, such as the oil industry and salmon farms, may make researchers touching upon these vulnerable to pressure from financially interested parties including the Norwegian state. The request for security and protection of national interests, defined by the government, may influence on exchange and contact with colleagues connected to countries like China, Iran, Russia and others.
Experiencing Freedom Amidst Constraints
How we experience academic freedom or the lack of it in practice is shaped through the contexts we relate to. At the same time, it is important that this freedom is not compromised across our research and teaching contexts: Not in the large picture through political and/or financial concerns and influences, but also not in the smaller picture through bullying colleagues or ridicule research fields. The governmental white paper on Academic freedom of expression from 2022 explicitly mentions that a good and supportive work environment and good collegial relations are crucial for exercising academic freedom. Criticism and discussions are crucial, and as long as they consist of valid arguments and substantial contribution, these activities are themselves protected by the academic freedom. Every researcher should learn to protect the balance between criticism and harassment. Criticism in an academic setting always includes substantial, scholarly arguments and can be considered part of the collective strive to make us all better researchers and teachers.
Safeguarding Academic Freedom
Suggested activities to protect academic freedom includes building knowledge about what it is, have structures detecting violations of it, discussing it with research partners and secure a shared understanding of it in joint projects. Ensuring transparency about financial, political and other forms of external ties for research is crucial. Building good, supporting work environments marked by collegiality is fundamental.
The Importance of Protection
Finally: Why should we protect academic freedom in research and teaching? The short answer is that without it, the quality of research and teaching deteriorates. In a recent op-ed in Khrono, two governmental advisors point out that excellent research and solid knowledge within social sciences and the humanities are crucial in a geopolitically tense situation to maintain a critical and democratic public sphere and hightens our resilience towards manipulation and false information.
A Curious Case of Missing Information
While I was writing this text for TF-nytt, I tried several times to access the webpage posting the original Bonn Declaration from 2020 hosted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany. I hope it was a unfortunate coincidence that the message “404 – Site nicht gefunden” repeatedly appeared. For the record, I found the English translation located at the Alexander von Humbolt-Stiftung’s webpage (pdf).