In person icon Roundtable on Regulatory Governance Under Pressure: Academic Freedom, Research, and Engagement in a Polarized World

Abstract

Panelists: • Joseph Weiler, Professor of Law at New York University • Katarína Staroňová, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration at Comenius University • David Levi-Faur, Professor of Political Science at Hebrew Univeristy • Thurid Hustedt, Dean of Graduate Programmes and Professor of Public Administration and Management at Hertie School Abstract: Democracy under attack in many countries, the rise of authoritarianism, and mounting strains on academic freedom present profound challenges for scholars of regulatory governance. This roundtable discusses the implications of these developments for research, teaching, and public engagement, exploring how scholars navigate shifting political landscapes, contested academic freedom, and increasingly constrained regulatory environments. In many contexts, scholars now operate in environments where transparency is limited, trust in expertise is eroding, and academic work itself is subject to political scrutiny. What methodological and ethical challenges arise when studying regulatory governance under conditions of declining institutional trust, reduced transparency, and growing politicization? How should academic curricula evolve to equip students with the analytical tools needed to engage with regulatory systems shaped by political contestation? What responsibilities do scholars bear in contributing to public discourse and policymaking amid contested regulatory authority? And crucially, what does it mean to defend academic freedom when scholarly inquiry—especially into sensitive regulatory or policy domains—is increasingly constrained? The roundtable will critically reflect on the implications of these trends for the academic community and the field of regulatory governance. It will explore how to maintain scholarly integrity and independence, sustain intellectual rigor, and foster constructive engagement and pedagogy in ways that are both socially relevant and resilient in the face of growing political pressures.