To the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. László Lovász
Letter of solidarity with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Dear Professor Lovász,
as representatives of our respective Scientific Associations we share with you and your colleagues the serious concern over the recent government attacks on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and academic freedom in Hungary in general.
We are especially alarmed by the structural reorganization that would have as consequence the placement of research in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences under direct political control. This both contradicts the basic principles of academic freedom and creates high uncertainty for the working conditions of the Academy’s staff. Independent science in all areas is an unavoidable requirement for the successful development of a society. Moreover, we express concern for the dismantlement the Academy’s network of research institutes.
All of these choices have been taken without the consultation of the academic community and in contrast to the decisions of the elected membership of the Academy.
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is an internationally respected centre of research excellence and over the years many members of our Scientific Associations pursued collaborations with researchers based in its institutes.
We wish that the Hungarian government respects the independence of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and that it restores the organizational and financial stability of their research institutes. We strongly support your efforts to safeguard the Academy in the commitment to academic freedom and scholarly excellence.
This letter of solidarity was accepted by the members of the executive boards of the Italian Economic Association (SIE), the Italian Association for the Study of Comparative Economic Systems (AISSEC), the Italian Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (IAERE), the Italian Association for the History of Political Economy (STOREP), and the Italian Association of Labour Economics (AIEL).
Yours sincerely,
the Presidents and the Executive Committees of the
Italian Economic Association (SIE)
Italian Association for Comparative Economic Studies (AISSEC)
Italian Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (IAERE)
Italian Association for the History of Political Economy (STOREP)
Italian Association of Labour Economics (AIEL)
Torino, 5/3/2019
The original letter can be downloaded from here.
Akadémiai Dolgozók Fóruma 