Q: Would the following scenario qualify as 'academic harassment' or even racism?

Your question is around both a serious issue and a possibly sensitive one. Also, it is perhaps of interest to you by virtue of being in the same field, at a similar professional level, or even simply as a concerned citizen scientist. In any case, it’s great to know that you are aware and concerned of matters beyond the purview of your own research.

Before getting into the query though, we’d like to emphasize that in matters such as these, it’s always best to consider both perspectives. This query has your description of this action, which may well be accurate, but there is always merit in knowing the other side’s details, if nothing else, then to understand their motivations. However, as that is not provided here, we shall mostly restrict our commentary to the information provided herein.

Also, you have two queries. We’ll take the second one first, for the same reason that it has less information in this context.

Would the researcher’s actions qualify as racism?

Basis solely the information provided in this query, we would have to rule out this consideration. The only possibly relevant information here is that all the articles published were by authors from one country. There are several instances where articles published by authors from one country had issues identified after publishing and therefore needed to be retracted. Research integrity (or the lack of it) was more in question than racism.

Yes, at times, it may seem that certain countries or regions (such as the Global East or the Global South), and researchers from these places, seem to be at the receiving end, with the whistleblowers happening to be from the Global West or Global North, but this may be more out of a desire to establish scientific supremacy. To determine an act as racist, we would rather need to consider the motivation of the individual or group in question, and we simply do not have more information in this case to do so.

Would the researcher’s actions qualify as academic harassment?

If this senior researcher’s criticisms are not valid, this action may indeed be considered academic bullying, or even a personal/individual form of the endeavor to establish scientific supremacy discussed above. On the lower end of the spectrum, this may only be considered annoying, with the scientist probably seeking to gain attention through the resultant press coverage. Many senior scientists are known to engage in bullying of various kinds, whether of those in their supervision or those in the field at large. This especially seems to be the case with tenured academics – the permanence of their position, they would seem to believe, bestows them with certain privileges, one of which could be ‘academic harassment.’ For more insights into how and why some scientists may turn extremely critical with seniority, you may refer to this article.

However, as mentioned earlier, we may also need to consider the possibility that this senior figure’s actions are justified. There are several senior scientists, either affiliated or independent, who strive continuously to blow the cover off of bad or inadequate research. You may read about one such individual here: I have found about 2,000 problematic papers, says Dr. Elisabeth Bik

Incidentally, you haven’t asked about possible courses of action you can adopt to curtail this researcher’s behavior. This could be, as already mentioned, because this query was more a matter of academic interest, not affecting you directly. Or it could be that it does affect you, but you are not in a position to do anything about it, as you may be junior to this individual. In such a case, we usually advise people to be practical about the situation – to consider the pros and cons and then act accordingly. Hope that works here too.

In case you are worried that the researcher’s actions, if errant, will go unchecked or even unpenalized, you needn’t. There are enough people – researchers and the general public alike – with the good of science at heart and in the right positions to keep a watch on oppressors and fight back. So, keep the faith.

For further insights into the points discussed above, you may refer to the following resources:

• Publication ethics problems don't spare any discipline
• UK's largest funder takes a stance against bullying and harassment
• The long-term effects of bullying in the workplace

As a way of keeping this conversation going, you may also wish to take part in Joy and Stress Triggers, our survey on mental health in academia, where researchers and academics get to share what’s working for them, what’s not, and how to address these issues. You may learn more about and take part in the survey here: Joy and Stress Triggers