Academic Freedom Under Siege

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This book argues that academic freedom in higher education across East Asia, the U.S., and Australia is under significant stress. Academic freedom encompasses the liberty to teach, research, and engage in various political and social roles guided by professional principles, and is closely tied to shared governance. This governance allows academics to influence key decisions, such as faculty appointments, promotions, and the approval of new programs. However, the challenges to academic freedom differ by region. In authoritarian China, political and ideological controls severely limit both academic freedom and shared governance. In semi-democratic areas like Hong Kong and Macau, as well as in democracies such as Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the U.S., and Australia, corporatization and commercialization have notably impacted these freedoms. Consequently, professors' roles are increasingly diminished, and the academic profession struggles to assert itself. Similar trends are also evident in Europe. These issues raise significant concerns for educators, researchers, and policymakers globally. The authors aim to learn from current practices to guide policies that protect higher education as a common good. Through detailed case studies and empirical data, the book emphasizes the importance of academic freedom and the threats posed by commercialization, corporatization, and political repression.