The Student Activist Support Centre, has found the need to provide student activists with much need security tanning that encompasses their Pyisical, Digital, Legal, Wellbeing and Narrative security. This has been taken into consideration especially in realizing the various spartial strategies that have historically evolved to resist oppressive systems. Student activism in Southern Africa has demonstrated a dynamic and adaptive relationship with the shifting spatial configurations of political power, as delineated by Zeilig and Ansell (2008). These spatial strategies, evolving across distinct historical epochs, underscore the importance of contextualizing security training for contemporary activists.
During the colonial period (c. 1880s – 1960s), spatial dynamics were characterized by distance and segregation. African students, often undertaking “pilgrimages” to European and North American universities, leveraged this distance to cultivate political thought and establish gathering spaces for the formation of influential organizations such as the West African Student Union (WASU) and the Fédération des Etudiants d’Afrique Noire en France (FEANF). These organizations facilitated crucial connections among disparate student communities, fostering Pan-Africanism and nationalist agendas. Conversely, the establishment of universities within Africa, proximate to colonial authorities, created contested spaces for direct action, albeit under heightened surveillance.
The independence era (c. 1960s – mid-1970s) witnessed the rise of the nation-state, transforming university campuses into significant gathering spaces situated in proximity to centers of power. Students, initially privileged, leveraged these spaces to project their activism onto the national stage, forging connections with other social groups. Governmental responses, such as the spatial reconfiguration of higher education, aimed to mitigate activism by imposing distance and segregation.
The neo-liberal period (c. mid-1970s – late 1990s) introduced extraterritorial influences, notably from institutions like the World Bank, challenging the national focus of student activism. Despite economic hardships, university campuses remained vital gathering spaces for resistance. Students expanded their connections beyond campus, mobilizing support from rural populations and urban labor movements.
The current globalization era (c. late 1990s – present) is marked by the diminishing significance of the national scale and the proliferation of private and virtual universities, posing challenges to traditional gathering spaces. The rise of extraterritorial activism, targeting international institutions, necessitates a broadened understanding of spatial strategies. The strategic deployment of student leaders abroad by governments, and the proliferation of virtual spaces, further complicates the dynamics of connection and gathering. However, the potential for new forms of connection and gatheringfacilitated by distance and virtual platforms offers opportunities for global mobilization.
The case of Makerere University in Uganda corroborates these evolving spatial strategies. As a historically significant gathering space in close proximity to national government, Makerere exemplifies the enduring importance of physical campuses as sites of contestation. 1 Student activism at Makerere, characterized by protests and demonstrations, underscores the strategic use of physical space to exert pressure.
In light of these evolving spatial dynamics, SASC’s training program, encompassing physical, digital, legal, wellbeing, and narrative security, is crucial. Contemporary student activists must navigate a complex landscape characterized by both physical and virtual spaces, national and extraterritorial influences, and diverse forms of surveillance and control. Therefore, SASC’s comprehensive approach, which addresses the multifaceted security needs of activists, is essential for fostering resilient and effective activism in Southern Africa. This program should incorporate the historical analysis of spatial strategies to inform current practices and adapt to the ever-changing landscapes of activism
.1. Makerere University’s iconic Main Administration Building Rises from the Ashes