Does Populism Threaten Academic Freedom? A Cross-National Study of Asia and Europe

Purpose: This study addresses the growing concern over the global decline in academic freedom, a topic that has drawn increasing attention from academics, policy makers, and the broader public. Although scholars have speculated about a connection between the rise of populism and diminishing academic freedom, empirical investigations into the relationship have been lacking. This research fills that gap. Research Methods/Approach: Using a historical data set spanning 1946 to 2019, this article examines the relationship between populist political support and academic freedom. Employing fixed-effects models to investigate patterns over time, this analysis assesses whether an increase in populist support is associated with a decline in academic freedom across Asia and Europe. Findings: The analysis confirms a decline in academic freedom over the past decade across 45 countries. Further, the article finds that increasing populist support is a significant predictor of reduced academic freedom. Implications: Populism is on the rise around the world, making these findings especially timely. Because academic freedom is essential to research, the proper functioning of universities, and the ability of scholars to speak openly on issues of public concern, the results have important implications for both academic work and public policy.