Attacked, Harassed, Intimidated: A Narrative Review of Research and Action on Public Backlash Against Scientists in the Netherlands and Beyond

Public backlash against scientists, encompassing attacks, harassment, intimidation, hate, and threats from members of the public, has become a recurring feature of scientific work in the Netherlands and beyond. Despite growing attention and importance, the evidence base is scattered, terminology is used inconsistently, and responses are fragmented across institutions and countries. This report synthesizes the international academic literature in the form of a narrative review. It maps the conceptual vocabulary and summarizes empirical evidence on the prevalence of backlash (30–45% of academics; 50–80% of media-exposed scientists), its forms, drivers, gendered and racialized patterns, psychological and behavioral consequences, and individual and institutional responses, including a comparison with journalism and parliamentary politics. It reviews countermeasures in the Netherlands and internationally. Finally, it discusses limitations of the current support landscape, identifies lessons from adjacent professions, and proposes approaches for future research. A comprehensive appendix lists current initiatives and resources available to scientists, communicators, and institutions.

This work was funded by the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL). It was prepared on behalf of the WetenschapVeilig program (www.wetenschapveilig.nl).