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Threats to academic freedom in Australia from Chinese pressure

Brian Leiter

This is a striking set of stories that bode ill for core academic freedom in Australian universities.   Too many Australian universities are already struggling with mindless bureaucrats micro-managing university life; add to that the need for Chinese tuition dollars, and it's a dangerous mix of incentives.   Curious to hear from others "on the ground" there about what's going on, so comments are open.

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One response to “Threats to academic freedom in Australia from Chinese pressure”

  1. Dirk Baltzly

    There's a further wrinkle to this story. An Australian academic (and member of a prominent left think-tank) claims that Allen & Unwin have delayed publication of his book out of fear of Chinese govt retaliation. Prof. Clive Hamilton was unwilling to wait and the rights to the book have been returned to him. A&U were cautious claiming that they are 'awaiting clarification concerning matters before the courts' at the moment. Hamilton claims that legal has been all over the manuscript to remove anything defamatory, so there can be no rational basis for fearing legal action. Who knows where the truth lies. But if indeed a publisher has caved to pressure, this seems far more worrying than the episodes discussed in the NY Times article.

    Story on the ABC website here http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-13/academic-claims-hes-been-silenced-by-chinese-government/9142694

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