When Students Protest: Universities in the Global North

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Description

Student political action has been a major and recurring feature of politics across the globe throughout the past century. Students have been involved in a full range of public issues, from anti-colonial movements, anti-war campaigns, civil rights and pro-democracy movements to campaigns against neoliberal policies, austerity, racism, misogyny and calls for climate change action. Yet their actions are frequently dismissed by political elites and others as adolescent mischief or manipulation of young people by duplicitous adults. This occurs even as many working in governments, traditional media and educational organisations attempt to suppress student movements. Moreover, much of mainstream scholarly work has deemed student politics as unworthy of intellectual attention. These three edited volumes of books help set the record straight.

Written by scholars and activists from around the world, When Students Protest: Universitiesin the Global North is the third in this three-volume study that explores university student politics in the global north. Authors explore university and college student political action, especially over the past decade. It is just over fifty years since May 1968 when student protests erupted at Universit Paris Nanterre in France and then spread across the globe. Contributors to this book demonstrate that despite repeated attempts by states, power elites and institutions to suppress and even criminalise student political action, student movements have always been part of the political landscape and remain a significant and potent source of political change and renewal.

Reviews

"When Students Protest is a timely three-volume series regarding student organizing in the US and internationally. Volume 1 (CH, Mar'23, 60-2057) considers protests among high school students. Volumes 2 and 3 (CH, Jul'23, 60-3271) consider university students' protests in the Global North and Global South, respectively. Issues addressed range from institutional changes to broader issues, such as corruption or climate change. As the editors and contributors show, "students continue to be moved to act not because they want to cause trouble or get out of attending classes" but "because they are aware of and moved by a deep sense of injustice and inaction" (p. 7). The chapter case studies include firsthand accounts and detailed analyses that will be valuable to those researching specific movements or the evolution of student activism more broadly. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals." --Choice Reviews

When Students Protest is a timely three-volume series regarding student organizing in the US and internationally. Volume 1 (CH, Mar'23, 60-2057) considers protests among high school students. Volumes 2 and 3 (CH, Jul'23, 60-3271) consider university students' protests in the Global North and Global South, respectively. Issues addressed range from institutional changes to broader issues, such as corruption or climate change. As the editors and contributors show, "students continue to be moved to act not because they want to cause trouble or get out of attending classes" but "because they are aware of and moved by a deep sense of injustice and inaction" (p. 7). The chapter case studies include firsthand accounts and detailed analyses that will be valuable to those researching specific movements or the evolution of student activism more broadly. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals.

Author Bio

Judith Bessant is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and a Professor at RMIT University, Australia.

Analicia Mejia Mesinas is an Assistant Professor, Azusa Pacific University, California, USA.

Sarah Pickard is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Universit Sorbonne Nouvelle, France.