CounterpointStimulating debate with the British Council

The actions of the Christmas Day bomber, supposedly ‘radicalised’ while studying at the University of London, have renewed debate about the relationship between education, radicalisation and security. Should university authorities ‘police’ their own students, or respect student freedom? And in recent years, the conflation of “radicalism” with “Islamic terrorism” has clouded much of the debate, preventing a rational and thorough assessment about the role of “radicalism on campus” today.

The heady days of the 60s and 70s saw the birth of “youth culture”. For the first time, students emerged as a distinct and unique group. The campus was transformed into a place of liberation, idealism, experimentation, controversy, activism and above all, aspirations.  This shift away from the norms and conventions of post-war society brought with it a whole host of ‘radical’ social and political movements – be it feminism, gay rights, environmentalism, socialism, humanitarianism and so on…

Today, in contrast, the campus appears mostly tame, and apathetic in comparison.  But are we witnessing a shift in “youth culture” today? Clearly students no longer appear to be ‘engaged’ in the same ways.

The following offer some possible explanations:

• The emergence of new media, online platforms and social networking has created new ways to campaign and mobilise.
• Internationalisation and widening participation in UK universities have dramatically changed the student composition – diversity has fragmented the youth experience. In the 60s and 70s, students were by and large of the same background – white, middle-class and left-wing. Today, segmentation by ethnicity, nationality, religion and wealth, makes it notoriously difficult to mobilise and unite on any one issue.
• The mantra of specialisation has narrowed university education to a job seeking instrument rather than a tool for civic engagement.

What exactly should the role of the University be, in the socialisation of students? Counterpoint’s project about “Radicalism on Campus” seeks to address this debate, by investigating the types of activities taking place in UK universities today. The idea of “radicalism” is conceptualised in its broadest form – that is anything that seeks to provoke debate, inspire change or challenge the status quo. Running from February to July 2010, we will look at student societies engaged in political, social, religious, environmental or humanitarian activism and analyse student perceptions of and involvement in “radicalism”.

The project will address these and other questions:

• How do student perceptions of their involvement in societies compare to academic and wider public ones?
• What types of activity are considered “radical”? And does this differ within and between universities?
• What does “radicalism” look like across UK universities?
• Are there differences between universities based on geography; age (old vs new); and situation (campus vs city)?
• Should radical activity, in whatever form, be welcomed?
• What implications does it have for the student in terms of widening participation, broadening the higher education experience and inculcating global citizenship?
• Where has “radicalism on campus” led to violence?
• How should we conceptualise the relationship between student radicalism, extremism and violence?

Through mass student surveys, expert interviews and focus groups, Counterpoint will seek to analyse what “radicalism on campus” across the UK looks like today. The study will be one of the first to specifically look at student perspectives, and will broaden current debate about Islamic Radicalism on campus, by looking at radical activity in all its forms. The project will culminate in a ‘Think Piece’ to be published in Summer 2010, which will scope out key trends and act as a departure point for future work.

Please direct all enquiries to: nehal.panchamia[at]britishcouncil.org

Click here for links to the current debate online.