Academic freedom and democracy are not parallel values — they are interdependent. Where democracy weakens, academic freedom erodes. And where academic freedom is constrained, democracy itself is undermined. This is the central question that brought together policymakers, researchers and institutional leaders at the House of European History on March 4th, for the annual STOA high-level conference.
At a time when both democracy and trust in science are under growing pressure across Europe and beyond, the conference examined what academic freedom truly means for open societies, and what is at stake when it is compromised.
From the measurement of democratic backsliding to the findings of the 2025 EP Academic Freedom Monitor, the discussions made one thing clear: protecting academic freedom is not just a matter of scientific integrity, it is a matter of democratic survival.
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Useful links:
• The STOA high-level conference
• The Academic Freedom Monitor
• European Parliament Forum for Academic Freedom