The debate surrounding the culture of silence and cancel culture at Swedish universities was one of last year's biggest cultural debates, with the conflict surrounding the name of Konstfack's exhibition room Vita Havet.
The debate has been given new life after TV 4's Kalla Fakta concluded in an investigation that employees at universities risked being ostracized and singled out when they touched on sensitive topics.
- Probably no one thinks that this problem is everywhere, but it is big enough to highlight it, says Sakine Madon, political editor-in-chief at Uppsala Nya Tidning.
She is positive about the investigation that the Ministry of Education will carry out to survey the existence of a culture of silence at the universities in Sweden.
- Academic freedom is extremely important for research and for people to dare to highlight perspectives that are also important, she says.
"There is no policy that can solve a possible problem"
Jesper Ahlin Marceta does not share the view that cancellation culture is a widespread problem at Swedish universities.
- There are individual cases that are deeply problematic, for example the one at Konstfack.
But it is not so widespread that it is a social problem, he says.
He believes that it will also be difficult to pursue a policy based on whatever the investigation comes to.
- Should students be banned from expressing their opinions about the "n-word", for example?
Should teachers be forced to use the "n-word"?
Should students be banned from boycotting their teachers and forcing them into lecture halls?
There is no policy that can solve a possible problem.
"Politics must encourage academic freedom"
Sakine Madon sees no problem with mapping a potential concern from a political perspective.
- Politics must have as instinct to encourage academic freedom, says Sakine Madon and continues:
- I hope that liberal politicians find their own way beyond both right-wing populism and identity politics from the left, which has been very destructive, says Sakine Madon.