Public intellectuals have declined due to self-censorship, administrative demands, and corporatization of universities. Academic freedom is in sharp decline, with nearly two-thirds of faculty curtailing teaching and research activities due to fear of institutional or political reprisal. Corporations directly shape research agendas, limit publication, and generally steer academia toward market-favorable outcomes. Activism is absorbed by capitalism and pathologized by media, leaving faculty and students risk-averse, disengaged, and more concerned about professional consequences than about social change.
