The Education System in Russia Can Oppose When It Wants To

It is evident from conversations with friends and coworkers that the majority of people think that Russian academics and instructors remain mute in the face of the militarization of education because they will inevitably encounter state force. But, in my opinion, there is no proof that actively opposing the war while enrolled in Russia's educational system is statistically risky, particularly if you do it with others.There is no proof that the likelihood of repression is significantly higher than 50%. This has been amply demonstrated over the last three years. An anti-war petition, for instance, that was signed by thousands of Russian scientists has been available to the public for nearly three years. What percentage of them have experienced repression? A minuscule percentage.Only roughly 200 instances of academics being punished nationwide over a three-year period were discovered in a recent assessment on the situation of academic freedom in Russia. That figure includes expulsions and dismissals for political reasons in addition to criminal cases—of which, incidentally, there are almost any.

To put it briefly, the likelihood of persecution for Russian scholars is less than 1%, not only less than 50%. Contrast this with the independent media, which even prior to the conflict had to deal with intimidation, incarceration, and even murder. The Russian Federation is not, to put it simply, a violent regime rattling its shackles in the field of education.It is easy to say that academics are being repressed just as severely as they were during Stalin. By making this allegation, one can obtain donations from Europe and stay out of trouble with Russian colleagues who wonder why they are getting foreign funding. Additionally, it serves as a means of sidestepping the important question of why Russian education has turned into a staunch supporter of the government.