Will research on terrorism ever be free of government interference?

The Guardian explores:

University research on terrorism may never be free from interference

It’s becoming much harder for UK academics to discuss issues such as conflict and terrorism. Last December, threats by the far right caused Birkbeck College to cancel a conference on Islamophobia; in April Southampton cancelled a conference on Zionism after alleged heavy pressure from pro-Israel groups. Our conference, Understanding Conflict, which we held at the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath last week went ahead in the end, but organising it wasn’t easy due to police interference. The experience raises the question: is it possible to undertake independent research or discuss issues such as terrorism at British universities, without the state or groups with influential agendas poking their noses in?

Staff at University of Bath have organised many academic events on terrorism and similar issues since the events of 9/11. While it would be wrong to say that these have never aroused interest from the forces of law and order, the current batch of concerns is different. There have been a stream of initiatives focused either on curbing allegedly extremist voices on campus or claiming to protect students and staff from becoming “vulnerable” to radicalisation.