Osipova: Academic Freedom Under Threat from Overregulation and Standardization

Professor Sanita Osipova defends academic freedom as a natural human right derived from dignity. She points out that freedom has always been under threat – as early as antiquity, the closure of Plato's Academy in 529 AD showed authorities' fear of diversity of opinion. Later, strict censorship limited science, especially humanities and social sciences, both in Tsarist Russia and during Soviet occupation. After Latvia regained independence, academic freedom was restored, but now it is threatened by a constant stream of regulatory changes governing science administration. Osipova emphasizes that rankings and international recognition are not most important; the university's mission is to serve the homeland, develop science in the Latvian language, and strengthen national identity. She calls for remembering traditions and protecting freedom from bureaucratic interference, because – as K. Roberts Lyer stated – academic freedom is rarely lost in one dramatic moment, but is gradually eroded by continuous regulatory stimuli.