Scholar Rescue in the Modern World is the first effort to share with a larger community the breadth and nature of the persecution of scholars around the globe. It is based on the data from the first five years of activity of the Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF). SRF is a program created by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to rescue endangered scholars in any field and from any country with support for one to two years at universities in safe countries, permitting them to continue with scholarly work interrupted elsewhere. It grew out of IIE’s work in this field since the Institute’s founding in 1919. In addition to salary support, SRF helps scholars find host institutions, access other resources, and adjust to life in their host countries.
During its first five years of activity, from its founding in April of 2002 until May of 2007, the Scholar Rescue Fund received more than 1,000 inquiries from persecuted academics around the world. This report is based primarily on data collected from that time period from 847 applicants to the Scholar Rescue Fund, 140 of whom were awarded life-saving and career-saving grants. Not included in this analysis is a recent ramp-up in SRF activity, begun in June 2007, to rescue Iraqi scholars, who are being threatened in great numbers.
“Scholar Rescue in the Modern World” finds that life- and career-ending threats to scholars are widespread and egregious. Individuals in 101 countries requested assistance; the Fund provided direct support to scholars from 38 of these countries. Applicants and grantees have come from a wide range of academic disciplines and fields. While countries of origin span almost all regions of the world, seventy-five percent of SRF grantees come from two regions in the world: the Middle East/North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The report identifies a number of factors that seem to give rise to scholar oppression. The top five factors are: low GDP; high level of conflict; low academic population; low academic population per million of country population; and Failed State status. The report notes that, while both governments and non-state actors such as militias and rebel groups oppress scholars, governments outnumber non-state actors by a factor of 3:1. While scholars are often persecuted for specific reasons, such as writing and researching about a sensitive topic, many scholars also face persecution due to general anti-intellectualism in their countries. The report also clearly states that there is much more we do not know. It is important to note that scholars seek help on a case-by-case basis and may be victim to persecution for any variety of reasons reporting to their particular circumstances and fields. To access a sortable chart of SRF and country data used in the analysis, please click here.
The report recommends several new programs or activities to mitigate scholar oppression worldwide. While the Scholar Rescue Fund will continue to offer what support is possible, we are also requesting the help of the international community to help preserve the world’s intellectual capital. Recommendations include: a UN convention against the persecution of academics; special visas to enable persecuted scholars to cross borders to safety; and an index of academic oppression that might predict violence against scholars and in particular when and where the next big academic emergency, such as Iraq has been over the past few years, might occur.
Click here to view the webcast of the UN launch event
To purchase the report please click here
To read and view pictures from the January 25, 2010 Scholar Rescue in the Modern World Book Signing Event please click here
To view photos from the Scholar Rescue in the Modern World launch event at the UN on April 14th 2009 please click here
The launch event for this report was made possible by the cooperation and coordination of UNU and UNU-ONY
To read articles by University World News, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education about Scholar Rescue in the Modern World please click here.
To read the official IIE press release please click here
To read the remarks by Vartan Gregorian (President, Carnegie Corporation of NY) from the launch event please click here
Research and publication of this report were made possible by a generous grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York
