Student Movements in Latin America

Abstract

Abstract Latin American student movements have historically been very active in the region’s political life. However, with the partial exception of historical accounts of the university reform movement and the 1960s protests, the academic literature has not addressed the Latin American student movements from a comparative point of view. Rather, it has mostly focused on national or local case studies. This chapter presents a review of some of the most relevant arguments and concepts of this literature, analyzing the key challenges facing contemporary student movements. It addresses three recurrent dilemmas involving student demands, tactical repertoires, and relations with political institutions. Each of these analyses is grounded in important theoretical debates. The chapter contributes to these debates by highlighting the main conceptual findings of the Latin American literature while discussing the challenges faced by the student movement actors themselves. It turns to examples from campaigns in various countries, especially Venezuela, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico.