Truth matters
This year, the global academic freedom movement Scholars at Risk celebrates its 25th anniversary. The theme of the anniversary is ‘Truth Matters’. Although that may seem obvious, the fact that these words need to be repeated says something about the times in which we are living, where we can see facts being relativised, research under attack for political reasons, and people in positions of power attempting to dictate what questions may be asked and what can be taught. Without free university teachers and researchers, there can be no free pursuit of truth. Without the pursuit of truth, democracy grows weaker.
SULF devotes all its focus and energy to higher education. We know what is at stake when research and education come under pressure. Science is built on examination, criticism and willingness to revise conclusions when knowledge demands it, not when someone wants it. Its strength lies not in the researcher always being right, but in the fact that answers are not predetermined.
That is why academic freedom is not just empty words. It determines what researchers and university teachers can actually do in their day-to-day work. They must be able to choose what to research, teach about topics that provoke opposition, and publish findings that are uncomfortable for economic and political interests, employers or other decision-makers. It also encompasses the right of students to encounter perspectives that challenge both their own beliefs and the prevailing order.
Around the world, we see the consequences of curtailing this freedom. Researchers and lecturers are being imprisoned, dismissed or forced into exile. Universities are being closed or ruined. Lecturers and students are being silenced. This is no coincidence. Those who wish to control a society often begin by controlling knowledge. This is where Scholars at Risk plays a vital role. The network protects academics who are under threat and defends academic freedom internationally. When SULF became a member in early 2022, it was a clear statement of our position and beliefs, as we had watched with concern what was happening in the world and to our colleagues in other countries. We stand with our persecuted colleagues, and we will not allow ourselves to become accustomed to restrictions on academic freedom.
For SULF, academic freedom is also a core trade union issue. Anyone who fears losing their job, who is dependent on short-term funding or who has no say over their work will find it difficult to exercise academic freedom. Freedom requires courage. But it also requires conditions and environments that enable courage. That means job security, a good working environment, collegial influence and strong trade union rights at our higher education institutions.
Threats to academic freedom do not always begin with dramatic abuses. They can also begin with political interference and micromanagement, precarious employment, a reluctance to engage in negotiations, a culture of silence and self-censorship. Here in Sweden, we also need to recognise these risks early. Stronger legal protection is needed for research, education and the autonomy of higher education institutions. But such protection is not sufficient if freedom is not exercised. It must be upheld by researchers and university teachers, by higher education institutions and by trade unions that defend academic freedom when it is put to the test.
SULF works with the Scholars at Risk network to show solidarity with colleagues who face threats and danger, but also with students, universities and democracy. A society needs universities that can scrutinise facts, examine claims and enable and support the emergence of new knowledge, even when that knowledge is uncomfortable. Truth cannot endure by itself. It needs doctoral candidates, researchers and teachers who are allowed to ask uncomfortable questions, challenge those in power and pursue knowledge wherever it leads. That is why we must work actively to uphold academic freedom, especially when it is most under threat.
Sanna Wolk
President of SULF
Published in Universitetsläraren 4/2026
