The Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas (CAFA) will take part in the 2026 Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), held in San Francisco from March 28 to April 1, 2026. Marking the Society’s 70th anniversary, this year’s conference—titled “Re-examining Education and Peace in a Divided World”—invites critical reflection on the role of education in fostering peace, justice, and social cohesion globally.
As the largest and oldest network of its kind, CIES brings together more than 3,500 members from over 1,000 institutions worldwide, including researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and students. The conference serves as a key platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on pressing global education challenges, with a strong focus on inequalities, democratization, and the relationship between education and broader social and political processes.
Within this context, CAFA will contribute to critical discussions on the challenges facing academic freedom across the Americas, particularly in relation to persistent inequalities, democratic backsliding, and the rise of authoritarian and denialist trends.
CAFA Sessions – March 28
2:45 – 4:00 PM
- Academic Freedom and democracy in central america: risks, vulnerability, and resilience
Clara Arenas, Asociación para el Avance de las Ciencias Sociales en Guatemala (Avancso) - Academic Freedom and the shadow of authoritarianism: progress and challenges in Brazil
Anthony Lewis Wagner, New York University
Moderation: Camilla Croso, Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas (CAFA)
4:30 to 5:45pm
- Commodification, Credentialism and Political Capture: Barriers for Academic Freedom in Paraguay
Gustavo Setrini, Faculdad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) Paraguay - Academic Freedom and Climate Denialism in Brazil and Argentina
Maria Fernanda Silva Assis, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - Scientific denialism and the erosion of Academic Freedom in the Americas
José Henrique Bortolucci, Maranta
Chair: Carol Anne Spreen, New York University
Moderation: Camilla Croso, Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas (CAFA)
Through these sessions, CAFA reinforces its commitment to promoting academic freedom as a cornerstone of democratic societies. By bringing together diverse regional perspectives, the coalition aims to deepen understanding of the risks facing academic communities and to strengthen strategies for resilience and collective action.