Professors feel ‘restricted’ by political correctness, survey says

Two-fifths of academics in Germany say they moderate their statements because of backlash fears

A survey by the DHV, an association of university professors and lecturers, has shown a marked increase in the number of academic staff in Germany who feel that “political correctness” impacts their freedom of expression.

In the survey, undertaken this year in partnership with a think tank called the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, 40 per cent of professors said they felt restricted by political correctness. This is up from 31 per cent in 2020.