11 September 2025
Isn’t it Ironic?
Since we do believe in the power of sharing personal experiences and in solidarity, we decided to share ours through this symposium as they highlight the different shapes and forms that silencing attempts and chilling effects can take, as well as the salience of solidarity in academia. They further unearth the hidden costs associated with pursuing publication projects that resist topical normalization and try instead to re-open space for important – yet often uncomfortable – conversations in a highly polarized political environment. Continue reading >>
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08 September 2025
Introducing the Symposium “Knowledge Under Occupation: Academic Freedom and Palestine on the Global Stage”
Pressures on universities and scholars to conform to prevailing political orthodoxies appear to be intensifying, often under the guise of safeguarding neutrality or combating alleged bias. This symposium intends to make a small contribution to re-opening the ever more restricted space for academic freedom and seek to continue to push against closing channels. Continue reading >>
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02 July 2025
Academic Freedom Mugged
The forced resignation of James Ryan from the presidency of the University of Virginia by pressure from a politically motivated U.S. Department of Justice, abetted by his opponents within the school, deals a dangerous blow to institutional academic freedom both at UVA and at every public university. Of course, universities must abide by federal civil rights laws as interpreted by courts. But Ryan’s antagonists pursue a radical reorientation of higher education away from most forms of increasing opportunities for disadvantaged students. Continue reading >>
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30 April 2025
Harvard Under Attack
Since Donald Trump took office as the 47th President of the United States of America, hardly a week has gone by without academic institutions coming under attack. The U.S. government is now claiming that Harvard - and other universities - are violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by serving as “breeding grounds for anti-Semitism”. This raises numerous constitutional questions. Continue reading >>
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29 April 2025
Harvard Under Attack
Seit dem Amtsantritt von Donald Trump als 47. Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika vergeht kaum eine Woche, in der wissenschaftliche Einrichtungen nicht attackiert werden. Die US-Regierung macht nun geltend, dass Harvard – und andere Universitäten – gegen Title VI des Civil Rights Acts verstießen, indem sie als „Brutstätten für Antisemitismus“ dienten. Das wirft allerlei verfassungsrechtliche Fragen auf. Continue reading >>
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28 March 2025
The Trump Administration’s Attack on Knowledge Institutions
Time for courage – and resistance Continue reading >>20 March 2025
Respect for International Law
Observance of international law is more important than ever in the current situation in order to maintain and restore world peace. This is especially true for Germany. We call for compliance with Germany’s obligations under international law. Especially at a time when international law is being broken by powerful states, we urgently appeal to decision-makers at federal and state levels not to jeopardize Germany’s commitment to international law. Continue reading >>21 February 2025
Criminalizing Knowledge
When does sharing information become an act of disloyalty to the state? Three bills advancing through Israel’s Knesset aim to answer this question decisively: any cooperation with international justice mechanisms, particularly the International Criminal Court (ICC), would constitute a betrayal of the state punishable by up to life imprisonment. This legislative package marks a dramatic shift from merely opposing international criminal jurisdiction to criminalizing the very act of documentation and information-sharing about potential human rights violations. For Israeli scholars researching international humanitarian law, the message is clear: our academic work could become a criminal offense if it finds its way to international courts. Continue reading >>
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19 February 2025