The Harvard Education Publishing Group made headlines when it abruptly canceled the release of a special issue dedicated to Palestine just days before its scheduled publication on June 9. This very unfortunate decision has caused deep concern throughout the academic community regarding censorship and its potential chilling effects on scholarly discourse. In March, preK-12 education scholars convened in Chicago to celebrate the Chicago Formal Announcement of the special issue. It hopes to confront some important issues such as the demolitions of Gaza’s schools and the difficulty in teaching behalf of Israel and Palestine in the US.
You signed contracts with other authors and edited articles that were already at publication stage. The abrupt cancellation has drawn extreme condemnation from fellows and champions of academic freedom. Thea Abu El-Haj, a Palestinian-American anthropologist of education at Barnard College, co-authored a piece that highlighted the importance of education in the struggle for Palestinian liberation. Other authors, such as Rabea Eghbariah, whose articles were deeply solicited and advertised in previous journal issues. This makes one wonder what the real reasons for the cancellation were.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions surrounding free speech and academic inquiry related to Palestine, following a controversial definition of antisemitism adopted by Harvard University in January. Critics contend that this expansive definition only greys the line of what is legitimate criticism of Israel and what is antisemitism, adding confusion to an already complicated topic. The removal of the issue underscores the brutal scrutiny of the academic disciplinary process. These advocates for pro-Palestinian perspectives face a chilling and hostile atmosphere.
Censorship and Academic Freedom
The sudden withdrawal of the special issue has raised serious alarm bells about academic freedom and censorship in institutions of higher education. Not surprisingly, many of the contributors to the collection expressed their outrage and dismay at the publisher’s decision. They made clear that cancellations happen all too infrequently, especially at such a late stage of publication.
The project’s editorial lead, Kelcey, said the cancellation’s timing seemed hard to believe.
“This doesn’t happen, certainly not at the point where you’ve been accepted for publication and you’ve signed contracts.” – Kelcey
The editorial board of the international journal conveyed their indignation at the authors’ deletion to the maleheads. They portrayed what had happened as a terrible blow for both education reform and social justice. They stated:
“It is a deep loss that your work will not appear in the pages of [Harvard Educational Review] as we intended – for HER, for the field of education, and for social justice.” – Harvard Educational Review editorial board
This latest incident is being seen by many as part of a larger move to censor dissenting views across academia. Kirsten Weld, another contributor, described the situation as “a textbook example of the killing of speech and academic inquiry related to Palestine.” Such comments reflect an increasing alarm about the constraints imposed on academic discussion, particularly around controversial issues.
Implications of Censorship
The cancellation has dismayed scholars around the world who worry it creates a hazardous new precedent for the world of academic publishing. Many worry that if institutions like Harvard are not willing to defend their mission to promote independent scholarship, it could discourage critical discussions across a range of issues beyond Palestine.
Thea Abu El-Haj sounded the alarm on this very occurrence. She argues it sends a deeply chilling message to academics around the globe regarding protections for their research, teaching, and scholarship. She noted:
“This sends a dangerous message to scholars globally: that academic publishing contracts are conditional, revocable, and subject to external political calculations.” – Thea Abu El-Haj
Rabea Eghbariah excoriated Harvard for not living up to its own stated ideals of academic freedom. He stated:
“It is incredibly shameful to see a university publication so explicitly betraying its mission and rejecting a clause on protecting academic freedom.” – Rabea Eghbariah
Chandni Desai supported this call by stressing the need to tackle such issues with a sense of urgency against a backdrop of persistent violence. She remarked:
“I can’t keep stressing the urgency of this article as we’re watching universities being blown up.” – Chandni Desai
The Climate of Academic Inquiry
The cancellation has played out amidst a climate of growing attacks on free speech on campus. Over the past few years, universities have been, often rightfully, criticized for allowing antisemitism to occur on their campuses. This concern was exacerbated by the Trump administration’s attempts to curtail criticism of Israel. This overall political climate has certainly escalated discussions and attacks on academic freedom and institutional integrity.
In April, Harvard University defended itself against these pressures by taking the Trump administration to court. In the wake of the decision, advocates commended the university for its robust commitment to academic freedom. The recent cancellation has led many to question whether this commitment remains steadfast in light of external political pressures.
Kelcey expressed her worries for the larger impact of these types of actions on democratic discourse in academic institutions.
“There’s this risk of kind of closing down the democratic space.” – Kelcey
While attention is increasingly focused on this tragic incident, it serves as an important reminder of a big issue. Censorship is not just about vilified topics, but it attacks the very bedrock of scholarly pursuit.