Challenges and Strategies for Academic Research Freedom in Iranian and American Law
Keywords:
academic freedom, research, Iranian law, U.S. Constitution, university autonomy, legal restrictions, higher education systemAbstract
The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the challenges and strategies related to academic research freedom in the legal systems of Iran and the United States. Using a descriptive–analytical method and relying on library sources and legal documents, this study examines the legal structure, executive obstacles, and statutory guarantees of scientific research freedom in both systems. The findings indicate that although both countries emphasize the importance of academic freedom in their constitutions and ordinary regulations, there are fundamental differences in the nature and scope of legal protection, governmental intervention, and operational limitations. The most significant challenges in Iran include ambiguous legal restrictions, extensive governmental oversight, and the absence of strong supportive judicial precedent; whereas in the United States, although research freedom is protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution, challenges such as interference from private institutions, economic conflicts of interest, and political and social pressures are also observed. The study recommends revising domestic regulations, defining clear boundaries for academic freedom, formulating legal support mechanisms, and drawing on the successful experiences of the United States regarding university autonomy and tolerance for diverse scientific viewpoints.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Seyedeh Zahra Jafari (Author); Moien Sabahi Garaghani; Mostafa Saraji (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
