For our eighth INSPIRE Unplugged Dialogue, we sat down with Prof. Jo-Anne Dillabough, who teaches Sociology of Education and is a Director of Studies for Sociology at the Homerton College, University of Cambridge. In our conversation, Prof. Dillabough explores how the rise of neo-nationalism, populism, and authoritarian politics is reshaping higher education.
Universities, Prof. Dillabough argues, are increasingly being treated as symbolic battlegrounds, leading to political interference, pressure on academic freedom and institutional autonomy, and constraints on research and teaching, particularly around gender, equality, race, sexuality, and migration. Using Hungary as an example, she highlights how legal and governance changes, as well as "culture war" narratives, can gradually transform universities and restrict academic freedom.
The discussion also reveals how vulnerable gender equality and EDI initiatives are in these contexts. Anti-gender and anti-equity movements can portray such work as ideological, while institutions may respond by weakening, relabelling or deprioritising EDI structures. However, Prof. Dillabough argues, there are some ways to move forward. For example, she names coalitional governance and transnational solidarity as key to resisting institutional capture. Universities, academics, students, unions, professional associations, civil society, and legal organisations can work together to defend academic freedom and equality. Rather than treating EDI as a standalone institutional programme, it should be connected to the broader defence of academic freedom, equal access, and the university as a shared democratic space.
You can listen to the full interview on our channels:
_______________________
The INSPIRE Unplugged Dialogues is a podcast series where we sit down with gender equality experts, be they academics, researchers, or practitioners, and we discuss issues related to gender, (in)equalities, diversity and inclusion, intersectionality, feminism, and more.
