Academic freedom, freedom of expression and the role of the university in society

In the first seminar, we will talk about academic freedom, freedom of expression and the role of the university in society. These issues have been highlighted in various ways over the past year, partly due to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have taken place at many universities in Sweden and elsewhere in the world. The demonstrations raise important questions of principle that will be discussed at the seminar, such as: What does academic freedom mean? What is its role in relation to freedom of expression? And what kind of issues should universities take a stand on? 

The seminar will begin with a lecture by Johan Östling, Professor of History, Lund University.

The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion with Sharon Rider, Professor of Philosophy, Uppsala University; Annika Lindberg, Senior Lecturer, School of Public Administration, University of Gothenburg; and Carl Dahlström, Professor of Political Science and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gothenburg, facilitated by Johan Karlsson Schaffer, Professor of International Relations at the University of Gothenburg.