Academic Freedom in Philippines: What's Next? [Scholars at Risk]

The Monash Scholars at Risk Speaker Series is a landmark interdisciplinary program to promote academic freedom and to raise awareness on behalf of scholars who are unjustly threatened or persecuted for their work. The series provides international scholars who have suffered threats to their security, liberty and well-being the opportunity to speak about their work. Monash joined Scholars at Risk in 2018 and is one of eighteen founding members in Australia.

In this talk, we will explore the topic of academic freedom in the Philippines. 

21st September 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in Philippines, a defining period in the modern history of this South-East Asian country. Martial law was in effect for 14 years, followed by a revolution which brought back democracy. Today's political climate brings back memories for many who lived through that time. The President today (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), after all, is the son of the late President who declared martial law in 1972. The shrinking spaces for academic expression that characterised life in Philippines in the 70s and 80s is increasingly evident in the public square today. For example, academic outputs are being tagged as 'subversive' and 'anti-government'. 

This talk will be a robust space for discussion -- we will be hearing from academics who are facing the challenges of living under this climate and discuss opportunities for scholars who want to support academic freedom in this space.

Program:

• Introduction: Dr. Delvin Varghese (Monash University) and Dr. Katrina Tan (University of the Philippines)
• Panel discussion between Filipino scholars based in Philippines and Australia (speakers being finalised).
• Closing comments: Dr. Reagan Maiquez (Philippine Studies Network in Australia, PINAS)

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