Academic freedom,freedom of expression and cancellation: Response to Sari Hanafi

Abstract

Responding to Sari Hanafi's article on academic freedom and freedom of expression in a conjuncture of societal polarization, this paper argues that, while it is pertinent to examine cancellation practices by the conservative camp, as Hanafi suggests, drawing an equivalence between these practices and what is labelled by them ‘wokeism’ is problematic. Such equivalence obscures the socio-historical contexts from which these movements have emerged and conflates the denunciation of what I call ‘stigmatizing discourses’ with an ideological assault on the left and on universities. The framing of the student protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza as terrorist propaganda and antisemitism was part of this assault. In a second part, the response engages with Hanafi's analysis of key aspects of the societal polarization surrounding the Gaza war.