From Norway, we watch with horror the Trump regime's attacks on academic freedom, government employees and democracy in general. We cannot escape the fact that what we are witnessing is the advance of fascism.
It is difficult to keep up with the regime's countless cutbacks, executive orders, decrees and actions. But after only two months in power, the developments are ominous and precarious, and their direction cannot be mistaken.
Trump has announced cuts in funding to universities that do not crack down on "illegal" demonstrations. Four hundred million dollars in federal funding has been withdrawn from Columbia University as a result of student protests against Israel's genocide. Several other universities are next on the list.
In the wake of the protests at Columbia, student activist Mahmoud Khalil has also been arrested and is in danger of being deported, despite the fact that Khalil has permanent legal residency in the United States and has not been charged with any criminal offense.
Major American research institutions are now comparing all incoming research proposals to long lists of “banned” words. If a proposal includes one of the words on the list, it is flagged and is thereby in danger of being rejected. The lists include a wide range of minority and diversity concepts, and transgender people, in particular, appear to be a priority target. In this way, strong incentives are created to curb independent research in order to comply with the regime’s political guidelines.
While some, both in the United States and here at home, have tried to paint a picture of the left and the very ambiguous concept of “woke” as a threat to freedom of expression, it should now be clear to everyone where the real threat comes from: the authoritarian far right.
All these advances are a demonstration of a targeted attack on academia, and the choice of academia as a target is by no means accidental. In line with the logic of other authoritarian regimes, universities are seen as a threat to the regime's consolidation of intellectual life and to the loyalty to their political project. It is precisely the free pursuit of knowledge and critical thinking that Vice President J.D. Vance wants to destroy when he advocates "aggressively attacking universities." Universities have often been a hotbed of resistance to authoritarian regimes, and such resistance cannot be tolerated by the regime.
The regime's contempt for diversity and demands for obedience are also visible outside the universities. Under Elon Musk's leadership, government employees are being laid off at an unprecedented scale and pace. The federal workforce is being cut and essential social functions terminated.
One of federal workforce’s duties is to ensure that the exercise of authority is in line with the law and regulations; they perform tasks that cannot be left to the free market and have a key role in ensuring a well-functioning state. By ensuring that the social machinery continues to function, they also ensure trust in the federal government and democracy. While we view this as beneficial, Trump and his cronies would rather be without.
The situation in Norway is different. Across the political spectrum, the idea of academic freedom is strong, and with few exceptions, Norwegian politicians distance themselves from the Trump regime's attacks on academia and the federal apparatus. Nevertheless, no freedoms can be taken for granted. Also in Norway, albeit in a less dramatic form, a policy is being pursued that weakens freedom in our sector and the welfare state as a whole.
Important commentators are advocating for very drastic cuts in public budgets, with ensuing consequences for public service provision and welfare. At the same time, the principle of free higher education is being eroded and the sector is being subjected to cutbacks and pressure to be increasingly market oriented. It is clear that we cannot take for granted a solid welfare state and a well-functioning public sector, but must view it as a benefit that must be actively defended. The welfare state and academic freedom are among our foremost tools in the fight against exclusion and fascism.
NTL will seek cooperation with labor unions at American universities to follow developments closely, help spread information about what is happening, and actively show that they have our support.