On Studentism by Lindokuhle Mponco

There is a tendency among students that has entrenched itself. This tendency renders the student movement a sectarian movement which inherently limits itself to student issues, and only student issues. This sectarian tendency has gripped many student organisations due to their inherently reformist character; however, this tendency seems to have also gripped organisations that call themselves revolutionary. This pervasive tendency has set itself up in revolutionary organisations due to the capacity of the current leadership in these respective organisations. This sectarian tendency is called Studentism.

 

What is Studentism?

Studentism is a tendency which is based on the belief that each institution of learning is a peculiar environment which has a different material reality from the 'outside' world. This tendency isolates the institution from the general struggles in society by emphasising that the struggles on campus are primary, while the struggles of the 'outside' world are secondary to the student. This tendency has entrenched itself slowly but surely in revolutionary student movements, and this has had a significant impact due to how revolutionary movements centre themselves on revolutionary theory that espouses a unity of struggles. When we deal with the concept of unity of struggles we must always link it to the concept of superstructures and base structures. Once we understand the relationship of both the base and the superstructure, we will also be able to understand that economic struggles are linked to political struggles, and political struggles are linked to social struggles etc. Student struggles also fall in the same category of struggles that are linked to the political, social, and economic struggles due to how all these aspects play a role in shaping the student environment.

Studentism then becomes a tendency that develops out of these conditions not because institutional struggles are primary; but because various leaders, activists, and theorists within the student movement fail to understand and even clarify the link between institutional struggles and the political, social, and economic struggles. The concept of institutional autonomy in institutions of higher learning doesn't obscure this reality for our dear friends not to understand or see these links. Rather, the concept reproduces these struggles even though they take another form. This form manifests itself in the practical form of institutions of higher learning having students who are dependent on state funded educational grants and bursaries (DHET bursaries and grants), students that are too rich for state bursaries and grants, and students that can afford to pay their tuition fees and some who are dependent on privately funded bursaries. This is the practical recreation of class antagonisms that exist in the 'real' world. This is why during protests students who are better off or happen to be funded by private sector bursaries are rarely found in the picket lines. The interests of these better off students are directly linked to the interests of the Management due to how the Management is linked to the State, and ultimately the ruling Capitalist class. 

How Does Studentism Develop?

Studentism develops in conditions of political isolation and a lack of class conscious students. It is important to note that without class conscious students the natural tendency of the student movement is to move along studentist lines of development. These studentist lines of development lead to one point and one point only, REFORMISM. Reformism is the natural conclusion of studentism due to how studentism inherently limits the impact and the reach of the student movement in the general struggle against the capitalist system. Studentism develops fast in conditions where there is no class consciousness and connection to the general struggle against capitalism. The lack of class consciousness is always attributed to the lack of political education. In some cases miseducation takes place and this ultimately distorts the entire movement. These distortions lead us to the studentist path, which then leads us to the reformist path and ultimately a reactionary path.

Studentism relies on these two primary conditions which are attributed to the lack of political education, and political ties. It is rare for geography to disconnect the struggles of students from the general struggles due to how most institutions of higher learning are either located in major cities and towns, or corridor towns that are linked to major cities and towns. Therefore, geography is not factored in this context but rather political connection is the determinant of isolation. When the branch/campus is linked to an organisation or structure that has a clear ideological path, studentism doesn't take root. When the branch/campus is linked to an organisation or structure that has no clear ideological path, studentism takes root. Studentism must then be identified as a tendency that thrives in conditions where there is a lack of a revolutionary ideological path, lack of class consciousness, and a lack of political ties to the general struggle against capitalism. Once we understand that these conditions lay a fertile ground for studentism, then we will begin the task of changing these conditions. Lenin once said, "Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement."

What is to be done?

Revolutionary student organisations like the EFFSC must begin the slow but painful process of weeding out all elements within itself that create a studentist approach when it comes to the questions that confront the students in their pursuit for a better life. They must then begin the process of intensifying political education at all levels of the organsation to ensure that the EFFSC is the vehicle that shall be fit for the purpose of raising the class consciousness of the majority of the student population in South African institutions of higher learning. The EFFSC must also begin the process of purging the individuals that entrench this reformist tendency so that the movement can link student struggles and community struggles. 

The EFFSC must also begin the process of being the thread that connects all campuses and institutions of higher learning. However, realistically speaking the EFFSC cannot do it alone. It needs PASMA, AZASCO, YCLSA, SASCO, and any other student organisation that deems itself revolutionary to join this revolutionary front. However, we know that SASCO & YCLSA can, and will act as a brake to the revolutionary movement due to how they have linked themselves with the ruling capitalist class. They have ultimately rendered themselves a Social-Democratic left wing, and pay lip service to the decommodification of eduction due to their links to the neoliberalist ANC and its youth wing, ANCYL. Lenin cautioned us against a unity which is not based on genuine principles when he said; "...what the worker cause needs is the unity of Marxists, not unity between Marxists, and opponents and distorters of Marxism."  What we need is a general programme which will be consistent with the principles of Marxism, while uniting all revolutionary tendencies against studentism in order to unleash the revolutionary potential of the student movement in support of the revolutionary movement of the oppressed toiling masses of our people!