This post is written by Freddy Lowe, a third year student in English Literature at Edinburgh. On May 5 2024, in the wake of pro-Palestine protests on US university campuses, journalist Afua Hirsch took to a CNN television panel to defend freedom of speech. She said, “I do question how much the university administration understands […]

In this blog Jim Butcher discusses whether academic freedom in an institutional or an individual freedom.  We think it makes an important point about the shifting terms of the debate over academic freedom.  It originally appeared at the Cieo website (full credits at the end) and was previously reproduced at the AFAF website: https://www.afaf.org.uk/academic-freedom-in-an-individual-right/.  We […]

Lawrence D Bobo, Dean of social science At Harvard has rightly drawn criticism after an op-ed in The Harvard Crimson entitled ‘Faculty Speech Must Have Limits’. The title is uncontroversial: anyone’s freedom of speech is limited by laws on defamation, obscenity or public order. But Bobo had other constraints in mind: Is it outside the […]

    EAFAF is happy to support this talk by organised by Living Freedom Monday 25 March @ 6:00 – 7:30 pm Violet Laidlaw Room, School of Social and Political Science, Chrystal Macmillan Building TALK AND DISCUSSION Defending expression and practice of religious beliefs throws up many tricky questions in relation to preserving freedom and […]

Lindsay Paterson, emeritus professor of education policy, School of Social and Political Science. 19 February 2024 (This blog is based on a seminar paper given at Queen Margaret University, 14 February 2024.) Advocates of academic freedom face a problem when considering the university education of people intending to enter a profession. To be employed in […]

The tensions and conflicts between Israel and Palestine have once again culminated in violence, bloodshed, loss of life, and widespread dismay across the world. There have been large protests and gatherings on our campus and on many other university campuses across the UK, Europe, and America. However, space for calm, evidence-based discussion which helps members […]

By the EAFAF Steering Group We were delighted that our screening and discussion of Adult Human Female – a film about women’s rights – finally went ahead last night (22 Nov.). It was, however, disappointing that yet again, members of the University community tried to prevent it, and that a major security operation involving dozens […]

This blog by Freddy Lowe, a second year student in English Literature at Edinburgh, was originally pitched to The Student Newspaper, who branded it ‘unpublishable’.  They especially objected to the last line calling for respectful listening to both sides.  What do you think? It is no secret that, among certain members of my generation, J.K. […]

Jonathan Hearn, Professor of Political and Historical Sociology, School of Social and Political Science. Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom was set up by a group of academic colleagues who were concerned about a growing climate of censoriousness, and a general chill around discussing and debating difficult issues in this university, and the university sector as […]

Arianna Andreangeli, Senior Lecturer in Competition Law, Edinburgh Law School   “Academic freedom and institutional autonomy of higher education institutions are not only crucial for the quality of education and research; they are essential components of democratic societies.” (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Resolution no 2352 of 20 November 2020) Academic freedom is […]