As you make plans for the upcoming Gold Coast conference, I wanted to bring your attention to two panels that will address the issue of scholars at risk.
Barbie Zelizer (U of Pennsylvania) and Hanan Badr (U of Salzburg) have organized the panel Scholars at Risk: Dangers, Patterns, Resistance, which will take place on Sunday, June 23, at 16:30, featuring Cherian George (Hong Kong Baptist U), Dariya Orlova (National U of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy) and Yoel Roth (Independent Scholar). A reception will follow the panel. The other panel is Scholars Under Attack: Political Pressures on Communication Scholarship, which will take place on Saturday, June 22 at 15:00. Speakers include Rebekah Tromble (George Washington U), Claudia Riesmeyer (LMU Munich), and Michael Wagner (U of Wisconsin); Claes de Vreese(U of Amsterdam) will serve as moderator.
I greatly appreciate the organizers' efforts to highlight the issue of attacks and pressures on communication scholars around the world in our conference. The panels will focus on different aspects of this important issue in the context of anti-academic, anti-intellectual, and authoritarian trends in the world.
The issue of "scholars at risk" refers to situations in which researchers are vulnerable to various forms of violence, generally by governments. Cases range from situations in authoritarian regimes determined to squash academic dissent to illiberal democracies where officials verbally harass and threaten scholars. Scholars have experienced attacks and intimidation, in the form of insults and doctored videos on social media, abusive online campaigns, and subpoenas, lawsuits, and requests from government officials.
As we continue to further globalize ICA, we also need to discuss our role in this matter that affects many members and colleagues. We should think creatively about ways we can provide support. Some universities have residency programs that host scholars at risk, and provide much-needed temporary relief, as well as opportunities to resettle and reset their personal and professional lives. ICA, of course, does not have the capacity to set up or manage such programs, so we must focus on what we can do within the context of association work.
Given our mission, scope, structure, and resources, what could be our unique contributions? Should there be similar interventions across countries and regions, or should they be adjusted to local needs and circumstances? Are there specific needs given the particular areas of work (e.g. disinformation, science communication, human rights, environmental issues)?
A necessary step is to know the experiences of scholars in various contexts and understand their views on how professional associations can help (or if they should provide any assistance given political sensitivities in many situations). Listening and learning are critical for us to discuss how we could make a difference, and determine what kind of support we could provide to colleagues.
I encourage you to attend both of these sessions. If you cannot make it to the sessions or the conference and would like to share your experiences and ideas, please contact me at waisbord@gwu.edu.