Beyond education: the diversification demands of the Chilean student movement in times of crisis

Abstract

This article explores the recent cycle of the Chilean student movement within the post-pandemic landscape, following the mass mobilizations of the 2019 social uprising and the Feminist May protests. While the current student movement continues its longstanding fight for free, quality education, it faces new challenges in a context marked by broader social demands, including gender equality, environmental
justice, and the drafting of a new constitution. Additionally, the presence of a government led by
former student leaders creates tensions that complicate mobilization efforts, especially in a setting of
low student engagement that contributes to fragmentation. This analysis employs qualitative methodologies,
drawing on secondary sources such as press articles, social media accounts of organizations, and
academic publications, to examine contemporary dynamics —from political tensions to the movement’s engagement with international solidarity causes, such as the “Camp for Palestine”. The article concludes with reflections on the movement’s prospects and its efforts to remain relevant and influential within Chile’s evolving political and social landscape.