Jan. 20, 2004

Reich Receives Freedom and Responsibility Award

Walter Reich, the Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Professor of International Affairs, Ethics and Human Behavior, received the 2003 Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The award, which is presented annually to honor scientists and engineers whose exemplary actions have served to foster scientific freedom and responsibility, recognizes the work of Reich, a psychiatrist, in combating the Soviet practice of labeling political dissidents as mentally ill and in mobilizing the international psychiatric community to condemn this practice.

“This award means a lot to me because human rights mean a lot to me,” said Reich. “If the AAAS believes that I’ve contributed something to protecting those rights, then I can think of no honor more gratifying.”

The award further commends Reich for his work that shows how psychiatric explanations for unacceptable behavior are often used to excuse it, thereby undermining the concept of personal responsibility. It also honors his work since the 1970s, to protect human rights and combat genocide around the world, as well as his service as the director of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum from 1995–98.

“This is an outstanding achievement for which Reich is very worthy,” said Harry Harding, dean of the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. “His perseverance in investigating and revealing the distortions and misuses of psychiatric theories and practices in the former Soviet Union contributed greatly to the protection of human rights.”

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