Towards Political Freedoms: Activist Organisers’ Perspectives

This chapter focuses on activist organisers’ perspectives on the potential of student activism and social media activism in enhancing students’ valued capabilities and functionings. Five activist organisers were interviewed and the conversations explored how they select issues that affect student well-being, sustain momentum and relevance within a given activity and generate change (or not). As organisers, their perspective is relevant and important as they form part of the student community that assumes the role of initiating grassroots activities outside the formal platform associated with the SRC. Similar to the previous chapter, this chapter captures conversion processes and their impact on organisers’ activities. Building on the previous chapter, the argument is that, from an activist organiser perspective, social media is effective in initiating grassroots activities and executing activist activities in certain circumstances. The same also applies to face-to-face activism which they argue is effective in particular circumstances. Organisers argue that even though face-to-face activism is important and suitable in particular circumstances, on its own, it is not able to allow their activities to gain traction and maintain momentum. Thus, the chapter argues that from an organisers’ perspective, social media activism is important, effective and relevant for the formation of political capabilities.