The Bidirectional Relationship Between Academic Freedom and Rule of Law: Hungary, Poland and Russia

This paper analyses the mutually reinforcing relationship between upholding the Rule of Law and protecting university autonomy. Academic freedom as recognised in international human rights law can be deconstructed into two inter-connected dimensions: an individual right and institutional autonomy. The paper argues that the relationship between institutional autonomy of universities and the Rule of Law is a mutually reinforcing one, as demonstrated by the situation in Hungary, Poland and Russia. This relationship manifests in two distinct ways. Firstly, the core principles of the Rule of Law are necessary to ensure that university autonomy is not threatened by arbitrary and untrammeled exercise of State power. Secondly, this autonomy, in turn supports and strengthens the Rule of Law. Therefore, to fully appreciate the state of academic freedom in Hungary, Poland and Russia, we need to consider this bidirectional link between institutional autonomy of universities and the Rule of Law.