Scientists fight back against far-right plans to restrict academic freedom in Germany

Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg is one of several universities in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt that could face reforms. Credit: Imago/Joko/Alamy Scientists are raising the alarm about proposals from the far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) that they say could severely limit academic freedoms at German universities and research institutes. The AfD is predicted to become comfortably the largest party in elections in two German states, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in September. Although most German parties currently have a policy not to enter into any coalition with the AfD at the state or national level, the AfD could form a government with a sufficient lead. The party is also currently leading in polls of voters at the national level. Education policy in Germany is almost entirely devolved to its 16 constituent states. In Saxony-Anhalt — where recent polls have seen the party’s support exceed 40% — the AfD laid out sweeping proposed reforms to the state’s university system in its election manifesto, in a response to what it sees as a “deep crisis” in German science. Published in April , the manifesto includes calls for “critical climate research”, the setting up of a state institute for “critical Islamic studies”, the creation of a chair in population studies to investigate the “dying out of our people”, and the abolition of gender studies. …