16. 06. 2026 | 18.15h
Venue: Anton Wilhelm Amo Hörsaal IV, Steintorcampus, Ludwig-Wucherer-Straße 2, 06108 Halle (Saale)
Academic freedom is regarded as a cornerstone of democracy – yet it cannot be taken for granted. Developments in the US show just how vulnerable academic institutions can be to political pressure and targeted attempts to undermine their legitimacy. What is already a reality there is also beginning to emerge in Germany.
Saxony-Anhalt is a prime example of this trend. In the run-up to the state election, Halle – a hub for science and research, home to three universities, numerous non-university research institutions and the headquarters of the Leopoldina – finds itself facing the AfD, a party currently polling strongly, whose manifesto envisages specific interventions in the scientific landscape and academic freedom: the abolition of ‘unpopular’ fields of research, political interference in university councils and appointment procedures, and targeted parliamentary questions aimed at intimidating individual academics and entire institutions.
The event brings together perspectives from academia and science policy to discuss the challenges, strategies and possible courses of action in light of these developments.
Following brief keynote presentations by the invited experts, there will be a moderated panel discussion, providing an opportunity for in-depth discussion and questions from the audience. The event is aimed at both the academic and non-academic public and is open to anyone interested.
Participants:
- Prof. Dr. Claudia Becker (Rektorin der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg)
- Dr. Justus Henke (Institut für Hochschulforschung (HoF))
- Prof. Dr. Jörg Niewöhner (Technische Universität München)
- PD Dr. Lukas Otterspeer (Europa-Universität Flensburg)
- Presentation: Nikko Kulke
Organised by:
Lukas Bornschein, Nikko Kulke, Daniel Oerlecke, Mathes Trauer
in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Research Training Group “Politics of the Enlightenment”.
