Cancel Culture: Heterodox Self-Censorship or the Curious Case of the Dog Which Didn’t Bark

This article examines contemporary debates surrounding cancel culture, academic freedom, and self-censorship within higher education. Norris investigates whether scholars holding heterodox or minority viewpoints are systematically less willing to express their opinions publicly, and explores the institutional, legal, and cultural mechanisms that may contribute to self-censorship. Drawing on cross-national survey evidence and broader discussions of campus free speech, the study evaluates the extent to which concerns about ideological conformity and intellectual intolerance are empirically supported. The article concludes by considering the implications of self-censorship for democratic discourse and academic inquiry.