In August, a volume compiling communications from the biannual Colloquiums of Glion was released under the auspices of the University of Geneva in Switzerland. It examines the challenges facing public universities within a small town setting and the broader implications for higher education in a digitized era.
The concept of the university as a fifth power remains compelling and timely. Against the three traditional branches of government the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary a fourth estate obviously exists in the press. Now a fifth power is imagined, introduced at a moment when major platforms such as large online marketplaces and social networks have disrupted established norms of dialogue and accountability.
The idea of a fifth power has long been discussed, with influences tracing back to a renowned writer who noted the power of media as a check on authority. Yet the rapid evolution of digital platforms has blurred lines of responsibility. The business models that once supported independent reporting have shifted, and the press and media find themselves less able to fulfill their essential watchdog role amid an abundance of information and rapid dissemination across digital channels.
Some scholars contend that the rise of platforms and algorithmic governance weakens the ability of universities to sustain a common culture of knowledge and to generate new understanding. Disinformation, hoaxes, and self serving campaigns circulate freely through networks and public spaces, leaving science and truth to struggle for prominence. This erosion risks undermining a shared democratic discourse, making it harder to address critical issues such as climate change and polarization with calm, evidence based debate.
Another chapter in the collection explores knowledge diplomacy as a strategic approach to harness the products of university research. The aim is to apply a practical form of the fifth power that can help steer global discussion toward cooperative and common goals. The debate seems particularly relevant in Spain, where democracy itself is at stake and the conversation about the future role of higher education resonates across regions and borders.