This timely book explores the challenges facing universities and individual scholars through an examination of the history and theory underlying the concept of academic freedom.

Freedom of speech is widely viewed as a central attribute of contemporary liberal democracies and within limits -- differing opinions can be articulated in public without fear of reprisal. Academic freedom, long regarded as central to the idea of the university is, on the other hand, a right which must be earned through the acquisition of expert knowledge and the application of intellectual rigor in teaching and research. Both hard-won freedoms are argued by many to be under serious threat. The expert contributors of this book, from all across the globe, examine both the importance of academic freedom and the severe threats universities face in this context in the 21st century. With its interdisciplinary approach and cross-national emphasis, central issues in this text are illustrated through detailed examination of case studies and consideration of wider developments in the academy. The contributors draw on a range of disciplines in their analyses and offer insights for an educated public that is hungry for examples and clear thinking about an issue of pressing, contemporary significance.

This timely resource will be of interest to staff and students across higher education and to members of the general public, who are puzzled by and trying to grapple with a growing and divisive issue that shows no signs of diminishing.