Is Academic Freedom Under Threat?

In this report, we contribute to this global debate by reporting findings from a new and unique survey of academics who are currently working in some of the world’s leading universities in four democracies: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Our aim is not to politicise the debate or fuel further polarisation but merely to report our findings and contribute to the ongoing discussion. Our survey, which includes academics from Harvard to Princeton, Oxford to Cambridge, Toronto to McGill and Australian National University to Melbourne, offers unique insight into the views and values of the world’s leading intellectuals. It allows us to probe their ideological beliefs, their support for academic freedom and free expression, the extent to which they tolerate nonconformists and are comfortable with the growing politicisation of higher education.