ABSTRACT
Student activism in universities has long played a role in the advancement of social, economic and development alternatives in the Caribbean. For activists on the Left, the university is a critical site for political socialization and leadership development. Following the collapse of the Grenada Revolution in 1983, socialist organizing waned, as well as student activism of the Caribbean Left. Through a review of contemporary literature on Caribbean social movements and activist insights on student activism, this chapter explores student activism and social change in the local, national and regional contexts. Subsequently, the chapter explores the organizational aims and strategies of contemporary student organizing and activism in the Caribbean. The chapter concludes by drawing some lessons from past student activism of the Caribbean Left. Although there has been a decline in student-led organizing for development alternatives, to redress the contemporary neoliberal higher education and socio-economic contexts of the Caribbean, student organizations need to be (re)politicized.
