The youth’s “trance of heroism”: The Latinamerican example

By Marina Rodriguez , Institute for Cultural Diplomacy

The times of nonconformity, despair and revolution have also affected youth in global terms, especially, in Latin America. «Educación sin lucro», «Hemos dicho: ¡Basta!», «Cinco años estudiando, quince pagando»; these were some of the banners from thousands of students who participated in the 2011 demonstrations in Latin America.

On the 19^th of April 2011, the Confederación de Estudiantes in Chile (CONFECH) managed to organize seven thousand people for the first demonstration which would quickly become a greater protest of thousands of students. Some of their complaints had been on the hotspot for more than twenty years. Countries like Colombia or Mexico also joined Chile in the fight against the problems of higher education in Latin America, tackling a wide variety of social issues, both political and ideological, while they joined the indignados movement.

For the first time, student marches represent a cultural expression in which people share the best in them through theatre and music. Thus, they achieve the support of citizens and demonstrations take on a more social value than a mere academic one, capturing as well the attention of the press and political organizations.

Nowadays we could say that we live in a world in which youth has a leading role; they make the most of themselves and fight for their rights, a generation without fear. The last one in joining the fight for social rights has been Turkey. Who will be the next?

OYED, Organization for Youth Education and Development
www.OYED.org

Further reading (in spanish):

• Valdivieso, Gustavo. Reforma a la educación superior: ¿más calidad? ¿más cobertura? Semana. [En línea] Enlace: http://www.semana.com/opinion/reforma-educacion-superior-calidad-cobertura/154686-3.aspx
• Vega Ruiz, Ricardo 2012 “La defensa de la Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México frente a la contrarreforma neoliberal” en OSAL (Buenos Aires: CLACSO) Año XIII, N° 31, mayo.
• Urra Rossi, Juan 2012 “La movilización estudiantil chilena en 2011: una cronología” en OSAL (Buenos Aires: CLACSO) Año XIII, N° 31, mayo.
• Ouviña, Hernán 2012 “Somos la generación que perdió el miedo” en OSAL (Buenos Aires: CLACSO) Año XIII, N° 31, mayo.
• Archila, Mauricio 2012 “El movimiento estudiantil en Colombia, una mirada histórica” en OSAL (Buenos Aires: CLACSO) Año XIII, N° 31, mayo.