Summarised by Centrist
Universities are tasked with producing knowledge and fostering critical thinking.
Yet, Dr Michael Johnston, writing for the New Zealand Initiative, argues that: “In recent years, though, universities have become political monocultures. Dissent is often suppressed. On certain hot-button topics, ideology has replaced debate. Anyone challenging prevailing views on equity and narrow definitions of identity is at risk.”
Johnston cites surveys included in a 2024 New Zealand Initiative report revealing widespread self-censorship among academics and students, a trend mirrored across the Anglosphere.
The issue isn’t just cultural. Johnston notes cases of censorship, sackings, and deplatforming as symptoms of a deeper ideological capture.
Governments are beginning to respond. The UK has enacted laws penalising universities that suppress free speech, while New Zealand plans to introduce similar legislation in March.
However, Johnston questions whether legislative fixes can address what he calls a cultural malaise.
Some advocate more radical solutions. Free speech advocate Peter Boghossian suggests defunding public universities and supporting alternative institutions.
In the US, the University of Austin (UATX)—founded by figures like Niall Ferguson and Bari Weiss—embraces traditional academic values. Its inaugural class began in 2024, backed by substantial funding and prominent intellectuals.
New Zealand’s statutory framework makes such initiatives challenging, and the country’s small population might limit viability. Still, Johnston argues it’s worth exploring alternatives.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund institutions that fail their core missions,” he writes, suggesting defunding and deregulation as potential paths if academic freedom legislation proves ineffective.
