Science needs liberal democracy and the rule of law

Against the backdrop of increasingly blatant anti-democratic efforts and the associated contempt for human dignity, we state clearly and unequivocally: liberal democracy and the rule of law are the unshakable pillars of our country and its institutions. They are also essential prerequisites for the existence of a competitive and internationally compatible German higher education system.

The comprehensive legal protection of academic freedom, as provided for by our Basic Law, is the foundation for the success of our academic community. Researchers must be free to choose and pursue their research topics. Research and teaching must not be exploited for political purposes. Only in this way can science realize its full potential for the economy and society.

The legal protection against discrimination in all its forms, as guaranteed by the Basic Law, is also a pillar of our scientific excellence. The diversity of international perspectives and backgrounds strengthens our academic community and contributes significantly to its progress. We are proud of this and expressly support the fact that people from all over the world and from a wide variety of backgrounds study and work at our universities. The member universities of the HRK have repeatedly stated and reaffirmed this in their long-standing “Cosmopolitan Universities” campaign: Only a university that thinks and acts internationally is future-oriented and competitive. An open and international campus and the international mobility of faculty and students are essential foundations for high-quality teaching, learning, and research.

The growing trend in the public and political spheres to alter the substance and tone of social discourse—in order to normalize anti-science sentiment, restrictions on academic freedom, racism, intolerance, and ideas and stereotypes based on exclusion, to erode social cohesion, and to undermine confidence in liberal democracy is deeply alarming. As the Executive Board of the HRK, we firmly oppose this. Every single member of our universities is called upon to stand up for the fundamental values of our Constitution.