Freedom is the foundation upon which scientific work is built. Without it, there is no independent research, no controversial debate, no societal progress. However, it is precisely this freedom that is increasingly coming under pressure – both in Germany and around the world. Academics and universities are increasingly faced with high-stakes challenges that involve undue political influence, demands for controversial events to be canceled, international tensions, and ethical conflicts.

Academic freedom is not a privilege. Nor, if viewed from a global perspective, is it something to be taken for granted. It is, however, undoubtedly necessary if universities are to preserve their key function as places of learning and innovation – and where conflicting points of view are allowed to coexist. We can only answer the big questions of our times if scientists and scholars are free to carry out their work uninhibited.

At Freie Universität researchers in the SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence (Contestations of the Liberal Script) are examining how and why liberal democracies are increasingly coming under pressure. As the German Research Foundation announced on May 22, 2025, SCRIPTS will continue to be funded as part of the German Excellence Strategy for an additional seven years. In the second funding phase, SCRIPTS will focus primarily on what makes democracies resilient.