Skip to main content
Log in

Student politics in the third world

  • Published:
Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Student political activism remains a key issue in the Third World despite its decline in the industrialized nations. Students continue to be active in politics and frequently have an impact on societal events. The historical development of student politics and student involvement in independence struggles, the role of students as incipient elites, and the fragility of the political structures of many Third World nations all contribute to the efficacy of student politics. Universities, as key intellectual institutions in their societies, also play an important role in Third World societies. Students, especially those in the social sciences, are fairly easy to mobilize and they often have a basic interest in political and social issues. It is argued that student movements emerge from their social and political environment and it is not surprising that activism continues as a powerful force in the Third World.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adam, H. (1977). “Predicaments and options of criticalintellectuals at South African universities,” in H. van der Merwe and D. Welsh (eds.), The Future of the University in Southern Africa. New York: St. Martins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altbach, P. (1968a). Student Politics in Bombay. Bombay: Asia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altbach, P. (ed.) (1968b). Turmoil and Transition: Student Politics and Higher Education in India. New York: Basic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altbach, P. (1972). The University in Transition: An Indian Case Study. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altbach, P. (1974). Student Politics in America. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altbach, P. (ed.) (1981). Student Politics: Perspectives for the Eighties. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altbach, P. (1982). “Student movements in historical perspective: The Asian case,” in P. Altbach (ed.), Higher Education in the Third World: Themes and Variations. Singapore: Maruzen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakke, E. and Bakke, M. (1971). Campus Challenge. Hamden, CT: Archon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkan, J. (1975), An African Dilemma: University, Students, Development and Politics in Ghana. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu, A. (1981). Culture, Politics and Critical Academics. Meerut, India: Archana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chow, T. (1960). The May Fourth Movement. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, S. (1970). Political Socialization and Student Activism in Indonesia. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feuer, L. (1969). The Conflict of Generations. New York: Basic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flacks, R. (1971). Youth and Social Change. Chicago: Markham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanna, W. J. and Hanna, J. L. (1975). “Students as elites,” in W.J. Hanna and J.L. Hanna (eds.), University Students and African Politics. New York: Africana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayaram, N. (1979). “Sadhus no longer: Recent trends in Indian student activism,” Higher Education 8: 683–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keniston, K. (1968). Young Radicals: Notes on Committed Youth. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keniston, K. (1971). Youth and Dissent. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klineberg, O. (1979). Students, Values and Politics: A Cross-Cultural Comparison. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lelyveld, D. (1978). Aligarh's First Generation. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, A. (1980). When Dreams and Heroes Died: A Portrait of Today's College Students. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, D. (1981). “Student politics in contemporary Latin America,” in P. Altbach (ed.), Student Politics. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liebman, A. (1972). Latin American University Students: A Six Nation Study. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M. (1976). Rebellion in the University. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M. and Altbach, P. (eds.) (1970). Students in Revolt. Boston: Beacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maier, J. and Weatherhead, R. (eds.) (1979). The Latin American University. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConnell, T. (1981). “Autonomy and accountability: Some fundamental issues,” in P. Altbach and R. Berdahl (eds.), Higher Education in American Society. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M. (1971). The Radical Probe: The Logic of Student Rebellion. New York: Atheneum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shils, E. (1970). “Dreams of plentitude, nightmares of scarcity,” in S. M. Lipset and P. Altbach (eds.), Students in Revolt. Boston, MA: Beacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shils, E. (1972). The Intellectuals and the Powers and Other Essays. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, J. (1968). “Burmese student politics in a changing society,” Daedalus 97: 274–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singhal, S. (1977). Academic Leadership and Student Unrest. New Delhi: Newman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, M. (1977). Sabers and Brown Shirts: The German Students' Path to National Socialism, 1918–1935. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Berghe, P. (1973). Power and Privilege in an African University. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter, R. (1968). Student Politics in Argentina. New York: Basic.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Altbach, P.G. Student politics in the third world. High Educ 13, 635–655 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00137017

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00137017

Keywords

Navigation