FGGA experts on freedom: 'We are only truly free when everyone feels free'
On 5 May, we celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945 and the fact that we have been able to live in freedom ever since. But what does freedom mean, and how does it relate to our safety? Various FGGA experts draw connections with their own fields of expertise.
Anneleen van der Meer, assistant professor ISGA
‘Freedom and security go hand in hand. Franklin Roosevelt linked freedom of speech and freedom of worship to freedom from fear and want. Such security is necessary in order to be free.
Complex security issues – hunger, conflict and natural disasters – can leave us feeling despondent. But we are not powerless. Look around you: volunteer, remove obstacles, and enable others to face the future with confidence. Freedom is reciprocal, but it begins with yourself. With the question: what can I do? What can I do to help someone walk the streets safely? To create space for religion, education and politics? Freedom is caring for one another; an active promotion of a safe future for yourself and those around you.’
Daan Weggemans, assistant professor ISGA
‘Our world is becoming increasingly digital. Our safety, too, is becoming ever more intertwined with the development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI). Technological innovation offers exciting opportunities to combat crime more effectively and to better protect our security. At the same time, we see that the digitalisation of our society also exposes us to a range of new dangers — for example, the rise of hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and disinformation, or the large-scale failure of vital systems due to software errors. Digital security, but also digital insecurity.
More fundamentally, digitalisation affects all parts of our society — from individuals to governments. It creates new information networks and helps shape economic and political systems, international relations, and social interactions. This development is so all-encompassing that its ultimate impact on our freedom cannot be determined in a straightforward way. It is up to all of us to investigate this and to contribute to sustainable security for everyone.’
Saniye Çelik, professor by special appointment Diversity and Inclusion of the Police
‘For me, true freedom begins with social safety: an environment where everyone feels seen, heard and protected. Not despite their differences, but because of them. It is precisely where differences exist in freedom that our shared humanity reveals itself.
In my work at the intersection of diversity, inclusion and leadership, I see how freedom comes under pressure when people do not dare to share their perspectives — whether within universities, the police, public institutions or society at large. Too often, their voices remain a mere whisper behind the scenes — not because they have nothing to say, but because the space to step onto the stage is lacking.
There is no freedom without social safety
Freedom, therefore, means consciously building a culture in which every person matters. A culture in which no one censors themselves, feels restricted or oppressed. This requires courageous leaders who are willing to engage in uncomfortable conversations and to critically question existing systems. For freedom is neither a given nor an individual luxury. We are only truly free when everyone feels free.
Freedom is more than the absence of coercion; it is the space to be yourself — in thought, in words, in actions, and in way of life. This freedom requires reciprocity; within it lies the very heart of human dignity and creativity.’
Koen Caminada, Dean FGGA
‘In my role as Dean of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, I experience freedom as the space to develop knowledge, to think critically, and to engage in open dialogue about complex societal issues. Freedom is the foundation on which good governance, justice, and innovation can flourish. Academic freedom is essential in this respect: without the ability to conduct research and speak freely, both societal progress and democratic legitimacy come under pressure.
Looking to the future, I hope that we — also within the domain of the social sciences — continue to view freedom as something that actively requires protection and reinforcement. Freedom is not a given; it demands commitment to uphold the values of openness, respect, and responsibility, especially in a world where geopolitical tensions and technological developments bring new challenges.
Particularly in times of uncertainty, it is crucial that universities remain safe havens where new ideas can emerge, debate is encouraged, and younger generations are educated to become critical and engaged citizens who will help advance our society.
In short: freedom requires care, engagement, and courage. Not only on 5 May, but every day.’
Bart Schuurman, professor Terrorism and Political Violence
‘From the perspective of my work, freedom is essentially the ability to live without fear of the government or of your fellow citizens. This quickly brings me to social-democratic constitutional states: places where the monopoly on the use of force lies with the state, so that citizens are not oppressed by criminal or terrorist groups, but where the government itself is also kept in check by a representative body and an independent judiciary.
We can count ourselves fortunate to live in such a country in the Netherlands and the EU, but even here, freedom should never be taken for granted. We are seeing more and more clearly how social media can erode social cohesion and trust in institutions such as free elections, the judiciary, and an independent press. The importance we attach to freedom of expression can even be actively used against us by countries like Russia, which have for years been attempting to undermine our Western democracies through online disinformation.
We must, as the Netherlands and as Europe, commit much more strongly to our security
This brings me to the point of external security: for a long time, we Europeans believed that the threat of war was a thing of the past. The harsh reality is that we have in fact become wedged between an aggressive Russian state — unafraid to use war to regain its lost status as a great power — and an increasingly autocratic United States, which is beginning to see Europe more and more as an opponent. If we are to continue enjoying our freedom now and in the future, the Netherlands and Europe must invest far more heavily in our security. This means not only investing in defence, but also strengthening our resilience: being prepared, for example, for prolonged power outages due to sabotage, or knowing how to respond if the internet goes down for days.
The EU’s recently announced investments in defence are a major step in the right direction, but to my mind it begins with citizens recognising what a privilege it is to live in a country like the Netherlands. That means we absolutely may — and must — be critical of our government, our institutions and of one another. But it also means cherishing the democratic political system that makes such criticism possible, as well as the welfare state which has not only brought us great prosperity, but also guarantees a social safety net that allows almost everyone to live with dignity — and shields us from the stark divisions that can fuel political violence.
Our freedom is less self-evident than it once was. Let us therefore cherish it — and defend it.’
Arco Timmermans, associate professor Public Administration
‘Three years ago, together with an international group of colleagues, I published a book about the advisory and opinion-shaping roles of academics in public administration and political science across Europe. We dedicated this book to all our peers whose academic freedom is under threat. We feared a continuing trend: universities, which historically managed to break free from political power, are now being targeted by it. ‘Speaking truth to power’ is turning into ‘speaking power to truth.’
Is politics restricting academic freedom? There is an alternative!
In response to the excessive pathos in education policy in the Netherlands, universities can choose their own narrative. They can state that we are facing retaliatory budget cuts aimed at intellectuals and can show solidarity with academic asylum seekers from within our own Western world.
But perhaps all this is mainly symbolic. If politics seeks to restrict universities' freedom through budget cuts, how then can universities themselves create more space? Leiden University could, for instance, lobby the European Parliament for more funding, as it did during the opening of the Europe Hub earlier this year. That strategy focuses mainly on substitution: if we cannot secure funding from The Hague, we try to obtain it from Brussels.
However, I find a more convincing way to safeguard the university’s freedom is by forging stronger ties with society. As with any meaningful interpretation of freedom, academic freedom is not without limits. Strengthening the bond between the university and society means demonstrating even more clearly that our research and teaching are relevant. In doing so, we no longer leave the definition of our relevance to politics.
This is about much more than simply scrapping English-taught programmes as a form of ‘damage control’. It is, above all, about creating value by collaborating even more closely with the societal environment — with businesses, institutions, and citizens — in both our research and our education.’
Monica den Boer, professor by Special Appointment Police studies
‘We must anchor our peace and security sustainably. That is why organisations such as Defence and the Police must be able to cooperate seamlessly with their partners in other countries. The collaboration built since the Second World War has brought us much and taken us far. Yet we could have achieved so much more had we not been lulled into complacency by decades of relative stability and prosperity. Our self-satisfaction could prove the death knell for our rule of law and democracy.
Let us not passively await the moment when Europe is abducted. Even now, there are forces fiercely pulling at her limbs. Let us prevent our democracy from being hijacked before our very eyes by populists and autocrats. Freedom means cherishing dialogue and reciprocity. Let us seize control and work towards Europe's strategic autonomy. To truly appreciate the privilege of our freedom, we must collectively confront and understand the horrors of war.
Freedom means cherishing dialogue and reciprocity
For a peaceful and secure future, I hope that new generations of officers and police across different countries will learn to speak each other's language, will remain curious about one another, will share knowledge, and will study together. My hope is that they will form a self-aware and critical generation, capable of facing enemies, saboteurs, and criminals with ingenuity. For this to happen, our society must provide them with all the support they deserve, as they place themselves in danger and risk their lives once again — for our freedom.’