Money and politics gagging researchers? Disturbing conclusions of the Council of Europe

Academic freedom in most European countries has been eroded over the last 10-15 years, says the Council of Europe in a report. RE experts list potential threats to academic freedom, including: political interference and the growing influence of social networking sites.

Self-censorship through social media and business pressure

The authors of the report estimate that there has been a democratic regression in Europe, which has also had a negative impact on the state of academic freedom. Since the Covid-19 epidemic, external pressure on the academic community, as well as cases of harassment and intimidation, have intensified.

The report indicates that although greater involvement of the private sector in academic activities is perceived as positive, growing dependence on private funding sources may increase pressure to adapt to the interests of funders. Social media are, in turn, an important factor which – according to the authors of the report – is responsible for the growing number of cases of self-censorship by scientists, especially at the beginning of their careers.

Poland in numbers: result 0.75

Poland is mentioned in the report in relation to the period until 2024. In the Academic Freedom Index, which assesses the state of academic freedom in 179 countries, Poland achieved an index of 0.75 in 2024 – with the average in RE being 0.80. The index takes into account five elements: freedom of research and teaching, institutional autonomy, freedom of academic exchange and dissemination, respect for campus integrity, and academic freedom of speech.

The case of Holocaust researchers and the Copernican Academy

In the section on legal provisions affecting academic freedom in CoE countries, the report mentions, in relation to Poland, a defamation lawsuit filed in 2021 against two scientists dealing with the Holocaust. The report does not name them; it was about Jan Grabowski and Barbara Engelking. The court of first instance ordered them to apologize to the plaintiff, the court of second instance – as indicated in the report – overturned this judgment, citing the importance of freedom in scientific research.

Elsewhere, the report mentions the Copernican Academy, established in Poland in 2022, as an example of the authorities establishing institutions to strengthen the government's ideological influence.

Poland is mentioned in the report as one of the European countries where public financing of the higher education system has increased since 2008.

The report included a recommendation that the Council of Europe and member states should consider strengthening existing legal provisions to better defend academic freedom.

Anna Wróbel (PAP)

awl/piu/