ICS Seminar Series
UPCOMING
Rethinking Academic Freedom in an Age of Silencing
Panelists: Alana Lentin, Ihab Shalbak, Stuart Rees, Linda Briskman
Chair: Valentina Bau
Date & Time: 30 July 2026 | 11:30am - 1:00pm
Room: EB.G.38 Parramatta South Campus
Abstract
More than 1,000 days into the genocide in Gaza, universities have become key sites of debate over who can speak, what can be said, and where the boundaries of acceptable discussion lie. While academic freedom is often seen as the primary protection for controversial or unpopular views, its limits are increasingly evident as universities respond to political pressures surrounding antisemitism, social cohesion and public criticism of Israel. This panel asks whether academic freedom is an adequate framework for defending anti-genocide speech in universities. While free speech is often presented as a fundamental democratic value, it has never been applied equally. As Steven Salaita (2023) has noted, free speech has never been absolute in the West yet is used as a yardstick for judging other societies as illiberal and undemocratic. In Australia and elsewhere, many critics argue that speech opposing genocide and advocating for Palestinian rights faces greater scrutiny and censorship than speech that defends or excuses it. Bringing together scholars from different disciplines, the panel will explore how contemporary debates about racism, Zionism, academic freedom and human rights are reshaping what can be said on university campuses.
The panel
Professor Alana Lentin (Western Sydney University) will consider academic freedom through the lens of anti-racism and discuss concerns about recent government requirements for universities to adopt official definitions of racism.
Dr Ihab Shalbak (University of Sydney) will examine the concept of mandatory Zionism and explore how it shapes the boundaries of permissible discussion about Palestine and genocide.
Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees (University of Sydney, joining online) will reflect on the role of universities and public intellectuals in speaking out against injustice. Drawing on decades of work in human rights, peace and social justice, he will consider the ethical responsibilities of scholars in times of mass violence and political repression. He will also discuss the implications for academic freedom in the light of the current Royal Commission on Antisemitism.
Professor Linda Briskman (Western Sydney University) will close the discussion by contextualising the findings of her recent report on the People’s Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine and consider what they reveal about the contemporary state of free speech in Australian universities.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please email Denise at: d.rezk@westernsydney.edu.au
Semester 2 Program
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Past ICS Seminars
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