In the United States during the 1960s and early 1970s, student-led protests against the Vietnam War became iconic. Campuses across America saw teach-ins, sit-ins, and shutdowns to oppose the country’s involvement in the war. These actions targeted both the Johnson and Nixon administrations, as well as companies like Dow Chemicals with ties to the conflict. Thousands of students burning their drafts ultimately turned public sentiment against the war, leading to the withdrawal of American troops by 1973.
In South Africa, the Soweto Uprising of June 1976 showcased students’ resistance against unequal education under Apartheid. Thousands marched in protest, only to be met with armed police, which triggered widespread anti-Apartheid protests and international condemnation of the regime. These demonstrations are credited with setting the stage for the eventual end of Apartheid.
Similarly, the Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia in 1989 demonstrated the impact of student mobilization. Initially gathering in Prague to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a protester’s death in an anti-Nazi demonstration, students quickly turned their focus to protesting the communist government. Police actions against the protest only fueled the movement, spreading it to other cities and forcing the communist leadership to resign. This led to a peaceful transition to a democratic regime.
In 2019, Hong Kong witnessed the rise of the Umbrella Movement, with students leading protests against a proposed extradition bill to mainland China. Their persistent demonstrations forced the Hong Kong administration to suspend the bill, marking an important victory against increasing Chinese Communist Party control over the city-state.
The Jasmine Revolution, part of the Arab Spring in Tunisia, saw students playing a crucial role in late 2010 and early 2011 protests against economic troubles and political repression. The movement led to the ouster of long-time leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, marking Tunisia as the most successful of the Arab Spring revolutions.Ukraine’s Euromaidan protests in November 2013 were sparked by then-president Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in favor of closer ties with Russia. Students were at the forefront, mobilizing quickly and setting up barricades and tents in Kyiv’s Independence Square. Their actions contributed to the eventual ouster of Yanukovych, leading to a new government.In Taiwan, the 2014 Sunflower Movement saw students and civil society groups unite against a proposed trade in services agreement with China, believing it would harm the Taiwanese economy. The protests, including an unprecedented occupation of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, successfully shelved the trade pact and set the stage for a change in government during the 2016 elections.
The Aragalaya protests in Sri Lanka in 2022, driven by the mismanagement of the local economy under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, involved significant participation from university students. Their efforts led to Gotabaya’s resignation and the formation of an interim government under President Ranil Wickremesinghe, which stabilized the Sri Lankan economy. However, these protests did not achieve larger political and constitutional reforms.