Academic Freedom in Asia
By: Lars Pelke
Nov 30, 2022
Academic freedom is a prerequisite for science and research that is free from political bias. This week’s graph illustrates the levels of academic freedom in Asia, comparing scores in 2005 – the global peak in academic freedom – with 2021.
Although improved, levels of academic freedom remain low in Uzbekistan. In contrast, advancements in Nepal have led to the highest score on the Academic Freedom Index in Asia documented in 2021.
Meanwhile, the picture in China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, India, and Hong Kong is discouraging. China and India alone have curtailed academic freedom for more than one-third of the world’s population. These declines are especially worrisome as the levels of academic freedom in the region were relatively low to begin with.
Relatedly, a book will be launching today on "The New Threats to Academic Freedom in Asia". Join to find out more!
