An essay by Inge Snip
Through history one can see that students started many major changes in history. Not only the French Revolution should be mentioned, but also the revolution-waves around 1848. Especially the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in china cannot be forgotten in this perspective. Even in the last few years, it were the students who were able to change politics: The Rose Revolution, The Orange revolution and the Tulip revolution are major examples. Looking at it in a historical perspective: the youth is the future.
Historical context
Although credits are being given to politicians and generals in many revolutions, it were students who started the, peaceful, riots and who were the fundament of many changes. During the French revolution it were students who initiated the patriot-groups (Palmer). For example, two years before the French revolution, there already took a small revolution place in the Netherlands. In a number of cities, students set up several revolutionary groups. These insurrectionists called themselves patriots. With the so-called exercitiegenootschappen they hoped to be able to fight against the army, who supported the city holder. Several of these groups joined the French in 1792 (Klein). Concluding, students were of importance for the beginning and follow up of the French revolution.
The liberal revolutions of 1848 also have an origin within active student groups. The aim of these insurrections were to institutionalize a liberally political system, making a liberal constitution and, in some European countries, the dissipating strange dominators. In Holland a new liberal constitution was established. The King, Willem II, changed in one night of point of view. He established a constitution commission, under the guidance of the liberal Thorbecke. They came with serious modifications. The new constitution is the basis of the Dutch’s current parliamentary model (Donner).
Probably the most illustrating example is the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in China. It was the first massive protest against the communist party of China and its undemocratic institutions (Palmer). In May the students occupied the square, on which even a replica of the American freedom picture was placed by the students. In the night of 3 on 4 June the army crushed with tanks an unknown number of demonstrators. The estimates concerning the number of deaths diverge of 400-800 according to the American Central Intelligence Agency and up to 2600 according to the Chinese red cross. Although many students gave their life, it is clear they arose a change in China self and in the international view on China.
Last few years
Historically students initiated, peaceful, revolutions. Nowadays in Eastern Europe and Central-Asia student activism flourishes again, also characterized by resistance against the dictatorship in their country. These young people - and student movements pursuit the ideal of democracy and peace. Each of these movements included extensive work by student activists. The most famous of these was Otpor, the youth movement that helped bring in Vojislav Koštunica in Serbia. In Georgia the movement was called Kmara. In Ukraine the movement has worked under the succinct slogan Pora. The youth resistance group KelKel supported the revolution in Kyrgyzstan.
The Rose-Revolution in Georgia began after the controversial elections in 2003, and led to overthrowing Eduard Shevardnadze. Mikhail Saakashvili replaced him after new elections in March 2004. The youth movement Kmara was head role player (Khidasheli). The orange revolution in Ukraine led to the cancellation of the result of the presidential elections and resulted in a second round of the elections. Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko was exclaimed as president. (Khokhlova). The Tulips-revolution in Kyrgyzstan was more violent than its predecessors and followed on controversial parliamentary elections in 2005. This revolution was supported by the youth resistance group KelKel (eurasianet).
Concluding
Although one can question whether it were always the students who initiated the democratic changes and, peaceful, revolutions; it is clear that they played a large role throughout times. Therefor, it is important for us, the youth, to stay active and involved. Where there are situations in which you disagree, you should speek up. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: “You must do the thing you think you cannot do”. And that includes changing the world, a country, towards a democratic and liberal place.
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work cited list
Klein, S.R.E., Patriots Republikanisme. Politieke cultuur in Nederland (1766-1787) (Amsterdam 1995).
Tinatin Khidasheli, The Rose Revolution has wilted, International Herald Tribune, Paris, 8 December 2004
Palmer, A history of the Modern World. (New York 2002)
Veronica Khokhlova, New Kids On the Bloc, The New York Times, November 26, 2004
Eurasianet, http://www.eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan/