Academic freedom and repression in the neoliberal authoritarian Turkish University: an academic letter to German philosopher Herbert Marcuse

This paper explores the repression of academic freedom under authoritarian regimes, focusing on Turkey. It adopts a unique approach by presenting its arguments as an academic letter addressed to German philosopher Herbert Marcuse. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci’s concept of the ‘time of monsters’, the paper examines oppressive political regimes and compares student protests in the 1960s and 2020s, emphasising the ongoing struggle for academic freedom. The letter highlights the case of Boğaziçi University, where students and faculty have resisted attempts by Turkey’s authoritarian government to undermine academic freedom since 2021. Drawing from Marcuse’s works, including One-Dimensional Man (1964) and An Essay on Liberation (1969), the paper connects the students’ resistance to broader themes of liberation from oppression. Marcuse’s critique of conformity and his advocacy for emancipation resonate with today’s struggles against authoritarianism. Using an unconventional letter format, this paper seeks to advocate for academic freedom and liberation from authoritarian rule, drawing parallels between contemporary protests and historical student movements for social change.