Lecture series: “Academia in the authoritarian turn”

In a global climate of increasing militarisation, unstable populist politics, and the normalisation of fake news, critical scientific research and debate is essential. Yet in Germany we have witnessed threats to scientific research funding, the suppression of student protests and cultural censorship, even as Islamophobia, antisemitism and intolerance have risen sharply in the shadow of October 7th.

Germany needs informed research and debate on topics that risk being censored or over-determined by national, class- based, or geo-political interests. Countering the authoritarian turn, this lecture series promotes careful debate at the University of Göttingen on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia; ongoing wars and militarisation; and resistance, protest and the suppression of dissent. We will explore the forces that shape our global politics but are omitted from representations in our national media, by examining the limits of legitimate discourse, and analysing the materialist bases of current wars.

Please find the full program here