Conclusion

Student Politics and Protest: International Perspectives draws on research conducted in 19 countries across the world to illustrate the diverse ways in which higher education students are politically active, and the factors that have facilitated (and, in some cases, constrained) such activity. The aim of the book has not been to provide a comprehensive account of all contemporary political activity conducted by students, but to showcase a range of innovative empirical work, located within different theoretical frameworks, and which draws on various disciplinary backgrounds. In this final chapter, common themes from the 12 preceding chapters are drawn together. These address: the focus and nature of student politics and protest; the contribution of students’ unions and student movements; whether students are engaging in fundamentally new forms of political activity; the characteristics of politically engaged students; the extent to which such activity can be considered to be ‘globalised’; and societal responses to political activity on the part of students. This chapter also, however, notes some important points of difference in the analyses provided by the various contributors. Indeed, Student Politics and Protest: International Perspectives does not seek to develop a coherent argument across all its chapters but, instead, illustrate the variety of empirical foci, theoretical resources and substantive arguments that are being made in relation to student politics and protest. In this way, it is hoped that it will underline the vibrancy of this area of enquiry, across the disciplines of education, sociology, social policy, politics and youth studies, while also stimulating questions for further research.