Academic Freedom: A guarantee mechanism of peace and sustainable development (Copyediting)
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Abstract
Academic freedom is essential to democracy, social justice, and sustainable global peace and development. Its decline mirrors a global retreat from democratic values—liberty, freedom, equality, and respect for human dignity—evident since the late 20th century. This erosion impacts academic freedom, which is vital for generating, critiquing, and applying knowledge to address socio-political challenges sustainably. The absence of academic freedom has led to grave consequences in human history. Genocide, the most severe, has been perpetuated in various nations where oppressive regimes silenced dissent and controlled narratives. State-perpetrated violence, another outcome, undermines peace and development. Both forms of violence highlight the critical role academic freedom plays in fostering open dialogue, critical thinking, and accountability. This article examines international evidence of how restricting academic freedom enables oppression and violence. It also highlights concerning developments in Thailand, where mechanisms to limit academic freedom—framed as preserving morality and national identity—are gaining traction. Such restrictions threaten to stifle critical discourse and innovation, jeopardizing peacebuilding and sustainable development. By reflecting on historical lessons, this article urges Thai society to resist these trends. Protecting academic freedom is not just a safeguard for intellectual inquiry but a foundation for a just, peaceful, and progressive society.
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