Katerina Manevska, Andrej Zaslove, Mathijs van de Sande, Cees Leijenhorst
Katerina Manevska, Andrej Zaslove, Mathijs van de Sande, Cees Leijenhorst

Student Protests | Current Affairs Lecture by philosopher Mathijs van de Sande, political scientist Andrej Zaslove and sociologist Katerina Manevska

Students at several Dutch universities are protesting the war in Gaza this week. They are demanding that universities be transparent about cooperation with Israeli organizations and universities, and sever ties with them. What is the significance of these protests, and how do student protests differ from other protests? Why exactly are the protests directed at university administrations and not at politicians in The Hague? Learn from political philosopher Mathijs van de Sande, political scientist Andrej Zaslove and sociologist Katerina Manevska about the student protests and on the right to demonstrate.

Podcast  

Thursday May 16, 2024 | 12.30 – 13.15 hrs | Collegezalencomplex, Radboud University  | Radboud Reflects and VOX | See announcement.

Review

by Nort Vlemmix and Pam Tönissen

An engaged crowd gathered in Radboud University's Lecture Hall Complex to discuss the pressing topic of student protests. The focus lay in particular on the current protests against university collaborations with Israeli institutions in light of the Gaza conflict. The session, part of the Current Affairs Lecture series organized by Radboud Reflects and VOX, featured insights from political philosopher Mathijs van de Sande, political scientist Andrej Zaslove, and sociologist Katerina Manevska. Philosopher Cees Leijenhorst moderated the conversation.

Exploring the Roots and Relevance of Student Protests

The lecture opened with an assessment of the ongoing wave of student protests. Katerina Manevska highlighted the global nature of these protests, sparked by specific issues that are notoriously difficult to voice effectively. Andrej Zaslove pointed out the feeling among students of being unheard, emphasizing the role of student protests as a means to fill a void left by traditional political avenues.

The Role of Protests in Democracy

Mathijs van de Sande articulated the critical role that protests play within a democratic society. He argued that protests are essential for expressing dissent, especially when institutional responses and public policies do not reflect public opinion. According to Van de Sande, the response to protests in Amsterdam signals a troubling constraint on democratic engagement.

Katerina Manevska en Andrej Zaslove
Katerina Manevska en Andrej Zaslove - Photo Sarah Danz

Why Universities?

The discussion then shifted to why these protests target university administrations specifically, rather than political bodies like the Dutch parliament. Manevska explained that universities have traditionally been sites for political expression among students, partly because of their direct engagement with the institutions and the formative nature of their experiences there. Protesting at universities serves as an accessible first step towards broader societal engagement. Additionally, students often feel connected to each other and form groups that nourish similar beliefs and convictions. 

Historical Context and Current Implications

Andrej Zaslove discussed the historical context of student protests, noting similarities with past movements and the influence of global protest cultures, such as Black Lives Matter. He reflected on the impact of external perceptions and actions, such as police responses. These can escalate protests or make more people willing to join the movement.

The Unique Dynamics of Student Protests

The speakers collectively emphasized the unique dynamics of student protests, which often involve a more educated and engaged demographic, particularly from the social sciences and humanities. These students are trained to critically analyze societal structures, which naturally predisposes them to initiating social movements.

Andrej Zaslove en Mathijs van de Sande at CAL about Student Protests - Photo Sarah Danz-
Andrej Zaslove en Mathijs van de Sande at Current Affairs Lecture about Student Protests - Photo Sarah Danz-

Challenges and Consequences of the Current Protest Protocol

Towards the end of the lecture, the panel discussed the new protest protocol issued by Dutch universities. Van de Sande criticized the protocol for prioritizing order and safety over the substantive role of protest in academic and democratic contexts. He stressed that this approach undermines the very principles of democratic engagement and fails to recognize the constructive role protests can play in societal advancement. Protest, he stated, are interruptive by their very nature.

Concluding Thoughts

The lecture concluded with a vibrant discussion about the necessity of rethinking the relationship between protest and democracy. The speakers urged a reconsideration of how democratic societies engage with dissent and conflict, advocating for a more inclusive and responsive approach to societal issues through academic and political channels.

This Current Affairs Lecture provided insights into the nature and implications of student protests, and also highlighted the broader context of democratic engagement and the critical role of academic institutions in fostering societal debate and change.

Announcement

Students at several Dutch universities are protesting the war in Gaza this week. They are demanding that universities be transparent about cooperation with Israeli organizations and universities, and sever ties with them. What is the significance of these protests, and how do student protests differ from other protests? Why exactly are the protests directed at university administrations and not at politicians in The Hague? Political philosopher Mathijs van de Sande, political scientist Andrej Zaslove and sociologist Katerina Manevska interpret the student protests and elaborate on the right to demonstrate.

Democracy and protest

Protest is part of a democracy. But not everything is allowed. At  University of Amsterdam, protests got out of hand, resulting in vandalism and police crackdowns. How does peaceful protest compare to civil disobedience, where rules are deliberately broken? What is the role of protest in the democratic process?

Protest at universities

Students and some university employees, are addressing their university administrations en masse. Why are they doing this? Why don't they head to the Malieveld in The Hague, to address the political powers-that-be? In the past, students often turned to their boards to make political statements. Do the actions we see now differ from previous student protests? To what extent is there a tradition of student protests at Dutch universities?

Come and listen to political philosopher Mathijs van de Sande, political scientist Andrej Zaslove and sociologist Katerina Manevska discuss student protests, and the relationship between democracy and protest. Philosopher Cees Leijenhorst is the moderator. 

The language of discussion is English.

About the speakers

Mathijs van de Sande is a philosopher at Radboud University. He researches democratic legitimacy and the role of protest and social movements. For this he draws on various philosophical movements and traditions, such as anarchism, feminism and (post)Marxism.

Andrej Zaslove is a political scientist at Radboud University. He conducts research on populism and political parties. His main research interests are: measuring populism (among voters), populism and democracy, populism and foreign policy, populism and gender, and also the influence of populism on party system

Katerina Manevska is a sociologist at Radboud University. Her research focuses on the interaction between cultural values and social structures and how this affects political thought and behavior.

Contact information

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Organizational unit
Radboud Reflects, Vox
Theme
Philosophy, Behaviour, Art & Culture, Society, Science