Academic Freedom or Freedom of Speech? Russian Social Scientists' Understanding of Academic Freedom

Drawing on a series of in-depth interviews with social scientists and university professors conducted in spring 2020, we explore how Russian social scientists assess and interpret academic freedom, with a particular focus on freedom of academic expression inside and outside universities. We find that while Russian social scientists generally agree about the state of academic freedom within the university, there is a considerable divide over where to draw the line between freedom of academic expression and freedom of speech. The social model is characteristic primarily of politically and socially active scholars, while the traditional understanding of academic freedom is more typical of representatives of university management. This discrepancy has set the stage for severe conflicts that have resulted in the dismissal from universities of politically and socially active professors and students.