It became clear from the debate that the rise of populism, authoritarianism and right-wing politics on a global level does not stop at Europe's borders: Across Europe, right-wing movements and parties are influencing political discourse on a national and international level, jeopardizing democratic principles such as fair elections, separation of powers or freedom of speech. This has not only led to changes in the political landscape of many countries, but also in the field of science. Attacks on academic freedom have increased and restrictions and limitations on research are being imposed. Academic freedom and democracy are closely linked and mutually dependent. "Academic freedom is central to individual and collective self-government," explains Kriszta Kovács. "Only by engaging with knowledge can we make informed decisions that are existential for life. At a collective level, scientific freedom is central to making political decisions, among other things. This has become particularly apparent during the pandemic," she explains.

You can watch the panel discussion online.

The event was organized by the Berlin Center for Global Engagement and the Oxford-Berlin Partnership of the Berlin University Alliance's cross-cutting theme of internationalization.