lemonde.fr
Turkish Government Expands Attack on Academic Freedom, Targeting French University
The Turkish government's ongoing prosecution of Pinar Selek, a researcher at Université Côte d'Azur, now includes the university itself, marking a significant escalation in attacks on academic freedom extending beyond national borders; a new hearing is scheduled for February 7th.
- What are the underlying causes of the Turkish government's actions against Pinar Selek, and what are the broader implications for academic research on sensitive political topics?
- The case of Pinar Selek highlights how attacks on academic freedom in illiberal regimes, like Turkey's, are no longer confined to those regimes. The Turkish government's attempt to implicate Université Côte d'Azur demonstrates a broadening strategy to undermine academic research and freedom of expression in liberal democracies. This escalation signifies a growing threat to academic institutions globally.
- How does the Turkish government's prosecution of Pinar Selek and Université Côte d'Azur represent a significant escalation of attacks on academic freedom in liberal democracies?
- The Turkish government's targeting of Pinar Selek, a Turkish sociologist and researcher at Université Côte d'Azur, and the university itself, marks a significant escalation in attacks on academic freedom. This action, stemming from Selek's research on Kurds and a conference she participated in, directly threatens French institutions and demonstrates the expanding reach of illiberal regimes.
- What measures can French and other liberal democratic institutions take to protect themselves and their researchers from similar attacks in the future, given the escalating extraterritorial reach of illiberal regimes?
- The ongoing prosecution of Pinar Selek and the inclusion of Université Côte d'Azur in the case signals a disturbing trend: the extraterritorial reach of illiberal regimes to suppress academic freedom is intensifying. This pattern suggests future challenges for universities in liberal democracies, demanding enhanced protections and international cooperation to safeguard academic research and freedom of expression.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative frames the issue as an escalating threat to academic freedom in liberal democracies, directly linking the actions of illiberal regimes to the challenges faced by French institutions. The emphasis on the persecution of Selek and the implication of the University Côte d'Azur creates a sense of urgency and vulnerability.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral, but terms like "illiberal regimes" and "grave attacks" carry a negative connotation. While these terms are factually accurate, they contribute to a negative framing. More neutral alternatives could be "non-democratic regimes" and "challenges to academic freedom." The repeated use of the word "persecution" also strengthens the negative tone.
Bias by Omission
The analysis focuses heavily on the cases of Fariba Adelkhah and Pinar Selek, providing detailed accounts of their persecution. However, it omits mentioning other instances of attacks on academic freedom in illiberal regimes, potentially giving an incomplete picture of the broader issue. While the article's focus is understandable due to space constraints, the lack of broader examples could limit the reader's understanding of the pervasiveness of the problem.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a clear dichotomy between liberal democracies and illiberal regimes, suggesting that attacks on academic freedom are solely a problem of the latter. This oversimplifies the issue; while the focus on illiberal regimes is valid, the article could benefit from acknowledging subtle pressures on academic freedom within liberal democracies themselves.
Gender Bias
The analysis focuses on two women academics, Fariba Adelkhah and Pinar Selek. While this is not inherently biased, it would benefit from explicitly mentioning male academics who have also faced similar persecution to avoid any unintentional gendered framing of the issue. The article could benefit from demonstrating an equal representation of both genders in their examples.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights attacks on academic freedom in illiberal regimes, impacting the quality of education and research globally. The persecution of academics like Pinar Selek and the targeting of universities demonstrate a direct threat to the free exchange of ideas and the pursuit of knowledge, undermining the principles of quality education.