Academic Freedom Under Fire

As armament and military defense regain political prominence, research on war and peace has never been more urgent. An increasingly complex and challenging Nordic security landscape demands critical debate, evidence-based policy and innovation. Yet, stricter security measures may reduce access to knowledge and information, and render research less international.

The tension between openness and security arises amid global threats to academic freedom, highlighting the fundamental principles that are ultimately at stake, and which several countries violate. Why does open research on peace and security matter now more than ever? And how can cooperation between researchers and decision-makers balance openness with risk?

This panel highlights cutting-edge, open research – from seismic sensors exposing war crimes in Ukraine to AI models predicting conflict – while probing the difficult trade-offs in an era where academic freedom is under fire.