(MENAFN- The Conversation) From climate marches to Gaza encampments, students across the globe are demanding political change. Their activism is often praised as a sign of youth empowerment and civic engagement.

But there is another side to this story. Activism can also exclude, silence, and polarise. It can amplify the voices of some, while pushing others to the margins.

My recently published study with colleague Euan Auld explored these dynamics in the context of Hong Kong's 2019 student protests. This was a mass movement initially sparked by opposition to a proposed extradition bill, which quickly expanded into broader calls for democracy.

We interviewed 26 student leaders from 11 universities, capturing a complex picture of student politics under pressure. What we found challenges simple narratives of activism as purely empowering. Student-led organisations became not just platforms for mobilisation, but also sites of internal tension and exclusion.

This paradox – the power to empower, and the power to disempower – is a contradiction at the heart of student politics. And while Hong Kong may be a unique setting, the lessons carry broader relevance as campus protests rise around the world.

In the lead-up to and during Hong Kong's 2019 protests, student organisations played a prominent role in the broader movement for political change. Student organisations helped shape protest strategies, coordinated campus actions, and became powerful symbols of resistance.

Our interviewees described feeling seen, heard, and united for a cause larger than themselves, with their student union involvement providing visibility.“No one would respond to my email if I was an ordinary student,” one student explained.“Being a student union executive gives me a position to make change.”

Students protest at Hong Kong's parliament building, 1 July 2019. Todd Lee/ZUMA Wire/Alamy

But that visibility came at a cost. As the political climate intensified, political alignment with localist viewpoints – often associated with a strong Hong Kong identity and, in some cases, pro-independence stances – became a prerequisite for leadership. In our interviews, student leaders explained that although student unions were expected to represent a wide range of student interests, from campus welfare to academic policy, their increasing focus on political advocacy meant that only candidates with strong ideological positions could credibly run for office.

“A political stance is essential to running an election for a cabinet of the student union,” said one student.

Some also described feeling significant pressure to conform to dominant narratives, often tied to a rising sense of local identity or support for more radical actions. One student reflected that“when the society stresses 'Yung Mo' [a confrontational stance] or the society no longer stays at this kind of 'Wo Lei Fei' viewpoint [a peaceful, non-violent approach], the students' mentality changes too and they want to escalate their actions.”

This creates a difficult environment for those who don't fully agree. Moderate voices, or students unsure of how far they wanted to go, were sometimes silenced or sidelined.“We would avoid showing our political stance publicly,” a student said, pointing to the discomfort students felt in expressing dissenting views.

Some interviewees said they chose to withdraw from student organisations altogether, fearing peer pressure, disciplinary consequences from universities, or even legal risks. The paradox is clear: the very organisations that enabled student voice also narrowed whose voices were heard.

Universities today

Hong Kong may have been a specific and high-stakes political setting, but the underlying tensions it revealed are not unique. As student protests resurface globally, university campuses have once again become contested spaces. Demands for institutional action collide with calls for neutrality and restraint.

In such polarised environments, activism can sometimes become a gatekeeping force. The louder it gets, the harder it may be for students to disagree. When political alignment becomes the price of participation, student activism risks losing what makes it meaningful: its openness to diverse perspectives.

This presents a real challenge for universities. How can they encourage political engagement without being seen to endorse one stance over another? How can they protect space for students to express themselves without letting any group dominate the conversation?

Hong Kong's experience is a cautionary tale of how student politics can turn inward, excluding the very voices it aims to empower. But it's also a moment to reflect. Universities have an opportunity – and a responsibility – to help keep student engagement open, inclusive, and pluralistic.

Student activism plays a vital role in challenging injustice and pushing for social change. At its best, it fosters leadership, political awareness, and a sense of collective purpose.“The campus is the epitome of society,” one student said.“If [civic engagement and study] are cut apart, then going to university becomes completely meaningless... Participating in civil society during one's studies is very important.”

But if it only empowers those who speak the loudest or hold the most popular views, then something important is lost. The lesson from Hong Kong is not to silence activism, but to ensure that it doesn't silence others.

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