In a nutshell

According to recent reporting from Politico, the EU has sanctioned Nikita Anisimov, the rector of Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. This move, part of the 19th sanctions package, was reportedly justified by two factors: the university’s 2023 decision to fund the education of Russian soldiers and its recent launch of a master’s program in “Sanctions Compliance,” which officials view as a degree in sanctions-busting. An EU official commented on the move, quipping the rector can now share his own “experience” with students.

Our Take

While the university’s actions are deeply enmeshed in the state’s political agenda, we believe using the blunt tool of sanctions against an academic leader is a terrible idea that sets a worrisome precedent. The 451 Institute’s mission is to protect critical institutions, including universities, from political manipulation. The core function of a university, ie the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge, requires insulation from direct political conflict. This EU action, however understandable, dangerously blurs the line between the academic institution and the state. It legitimizes the university as a direct political target, rather than an institution whose core mission has been compromised. This erosion of institutional distinction is the very politicization we work to prevent. It risks creating a framework that could be used to justify interference with other academic institutions based on their curriculum or leadership, threatening the neutrality and academic freedom vital to democracy. The rule of law, including the need for proportionate measures, is too important to joke about.