Part 10/12:
Fonda’s remarks highlight a broader trend: the question of whether elite universities like Harvard and their counterparts in Australia have become semi-autonomous entities, operating more like international or stateless zones rather than integral parts of national systems. These institutions benefit from public funds, federal research grants, and international reputation, but often avoid accountability.
In Australia, similar issues exist—where universities also grapple with ideological changes, funding dependencies, and tensions over campus culture and internationalization—mirroring the struggles faced by their American counterparts.