'A Scary Place': Yale Professor Jason Stanley Departs U.S., Citing Political Climate

Jason Stanley, a renowned Yale University philosophy professor and scholar of fascism, is leaving the United States to take up a position at the University of Toronto, citing concerns over the current political climate and what he describes as the country's drift toward authoritarianism. His move, along with those of two other Yale professors, has sparked debate about the state of American democracy and the role of universities in a politically charged environment.

A Move Driven by Political Concerns

Stanley, the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale, is best known for his work in philosophy of language and epistemology, as well as his more recent work on propaganda and fascism. He is the author of several influential books, including "How Propaganda Works" (2015) and "How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them" (2018). Stanley's scholarship often examines contemporary politics through the lens of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, a perspective informed by his Jewish background and family history. His parents were refugees from Nazi Germany.

In recent years, Stanley has become increasingly vocal about his concerns regarding the direction of American politics. He has argued that certain trends, including attacks on education, the legal community, the media, and public employees, as well as crackdowns on free speech, are indicative of an authoritarian power structure taking hold in the United States.

Stanley told the Daily Nous, a professional philosophy website, that he decided "to raise my kids in a country that is not tilting towards a fascist dictatorship". He likened his departure for Canada to leaving Germany in 1932, 33, 34. "I don't see it as fleeing at all," he said. "I see it as joining Canada, which is a target of Trump, just like Yale is a target of Trump."

Echoes of History

Stanley's decision to leave the U.S. has drawn comparisons to the flight of Jewish intellectuals from Nazi Germany in the 1930s. While Stanley himself has acknowledged the resonance of this historical parallel, he has also emphasized that his move is not simply an act of fleeing, but rather a proactive decision to join a society that he believes is more committed to democratic values.

"It's clear to me that it's time to go for an academic and a critic of the Trump administration who has the privilege to have an opportunity to leave," Stanley said in an interview. He added that he hopes American universities will "fight back" against what he sees as attacks on academic freedom and critical inquiry.

A Broader Exodus?

Stanley is not the only prominent academic to leave Yale for the University of Toronto. Historians Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore, who are married, are also joining the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Snyder is the author of books including "The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America", and Shore is the author of "The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution" and other works.

While Snyder has stated that his motivations were largely personal, Shore has expressed fears of "civil war" in the United States. The departure of these three scholars, all vocal critics of President Trump, has raised concerns about a potential brain drain from American universities.

Jason Stanley, decrying Columbia University's capitulation to the federal government, is leaving for the University of Toronto. Stanley said he finally accepted Toronto's long-standing offer for a position after seeing Columbia University “completely collapse and give in to an authoritarian regime.” In a move that has unnerved faculty across the country, Columbia's administration largely conceded to demands from the Trump administration, which had cut $400 million of the university's federal grants and contracts for what it said was Columbia's failure to address campus antisemitism.

The Future of Academic Freedom

The departures from Yale come at a time when universities across the United States are facing increasing political pressure. The Trump administration has been accused of targeting institutions of higher education, citing concerns about issues ranging from antisemitism to free speech.

Princeton University said several dozen of its federal grants have been halted. It's just the latest Trump administration move targeting colleges. Last week, Columbia agreed to policy changes after the administration pulled $400 million in federal funding.

Some academics fear that these actions could have a chilling effect on academic freedom and critical inquiry. Stanley himself has expressed concern that Yale and other Ivy League institutions may not fully understand the challenges they face. He has stated that he loves Yale and had expected to spend the rest of his career there, but he is nervous that the university "will do what Columbia did."

A Loss for the U.S., a Gain for Canada

Stanley's departure is undoubtedly a loss for Yale University and the American academic community. He is a highly respected scholar and a prominent voice in public debates about democracy and authoritarianism. His move to the University of Toronto, however, represents a significant gain for Canada.

Stanley will be joining a growing number of academics who are drawn to Canada's more open and tolerant political climate. He has expressed hope that Canadian universities will seize the opportunity to "replace the greatness of American universities" and become leading centers for research and scholarship.

As Jason Stanley embarks on this new chapter in his career, his decision serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing American democracy and the importance of defending academic freedom and critical inquiry. His move to Canada is not just a personal decision, but also a reflection of the broader anxieties and uncertainties that are shaping the political landscape in the United States.