CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES AND THE INSTITUTIONAL REALITY OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE FROM POST-SOVIET HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

Academic freedom is widely recognized as a foundational principle of modern higher education and democratic knowledge production. Many contemporary constitutions formally protect the freedom of scientific research and recognize various forms of university autonomy. However, constitutional guarantees do not necessarily ensure the effective realization of academic freedom in practice. This article examines the relationship between constitutional recognition of academic freedom and the institutional conditions necessary for its meaningful implementation. Drawing on comparative constitutional analysis and the experience of post-Soviet higher education systems, the article argues that academic freedom functions not only as a legal right but also as a governance principle embedded in institutional structures. Using Uzbekistan as an illustrative case, the study demonstrates how centralized academic governance, bureaucratic regulation of doctoral education, and publication-based research evaluation systems may constrain the practical realization of academic freedom despite formal legal protections. The article shows that constitutional guarantees of academic freedom are most effective when supported by institutional autonomy, transparent research governance, and a resilient research ecosystem. By linking constitutional design with higher education governance, the article contributes to contemporary debates on the institutional foundations of academic freedom.