The rise of American universities; What is the meaning of student accounts?

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, the wave of protests Support for Palestine on American university campuses has become more widespread after the arrest of hundreds of protesters at Columbia University, and after spreading to most universities in this country, it is spreading to universities in other countries around the world.

Protests from Columbia University in New York started 9 days ago (April 17) and the protesting students demanded to end the university’s relationship with the Israeli institutions that are involved in the Gaza war. Protesters in other universities have similar demands. Campus camps that have sprung up across America have brought together students from diverse backgrounds — including Palestinians, Arabs, Jews and Muslims — to denounce Israel’s bombing of Gaza.

American experts believe that the university protest movement in the United States has highlighted the generational divide about Israel and demonstrated the willingness of young people to challenge politicians and college administrators across the country.

They argue that the divide (younger Americans who generally support the Palestinians more than generations before them) poses a threat to the re-election chances of 81-year-old Democratic President Joe Biden.

Omar Vasu, assistant professor of political science at the University of California, said in a conversation with Al Jazeera: “We are currently witnessing a generational divide regarding Israel, and this is a long-term issue for the party.” It will be a democrat. These protests accelerate the generation gap.”

Columbia University students in New York solidarity camp last week Palestine and have since faced arrest and other disciplinary action after college management asked the police to handle the protest. Despite the crackdown, however, similar camps have sprung up across the United States as well as in other countries.

The students’ main demand is for universities to disclose their investments. and claw back any funds they paid to arms manufacturers and companies linked to the Israeli military.

Politicians from both major US parties, as well as the White House and Supporters of the Israeli regime have accused the students of inciting anti-Semitism; Accusations that the protesters vehemently deny.

“Aman Abdul Hadi”, a sociologist at the University of Chicago, also told Al Jazeera that young people are increasingly dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. Domestic and foreign policy are frustrated. “I think there’s a real dissatisfaction with the older generation,” he said. Commonly occurring either concurrently with or initiated by major student movements. Activism on campus can be the basis for political change. There’s a sense that this is the future.

For years, public opinion polls in the United States have shown that younger people are more likely to sympathize with the Palestinians and to oppose the regime. They criticize Israel. But Americans have generally been more critical of Israel’s recent treatment of Palestinians. Multiple polls show that the majority of American respondents support a permanent ceasefire.

But Biden has maintained his strong support for the Israeli regime, America’s main ally in the Middle East, amid the war. has done. The 81-year-old president’s stance could be politically costly as Biden faces a tough re-election race in November, which is expected to pit him against Republican rival Donald Trump.

“Angus Johnston, a historian of US student activism, explained that the generational divide on Israel is particularly evident among Democrats. . “Nationally, we’ve seen this issue for some time as a disconnect between the values ​​of young voters and most Democratic politicians,” Johnston told Al Jazeera. And what we are witnessing now is a similar rift between the youth and many of the administrators who run these colleges.” Umar Vasu also said that the protests and suppression of students American could add to apathy towards Biden.

The student protesters are not involved in US partisan politics. Instead, they have emphasized that their desire is to help protect the human rights of Palestinians. So can protests help change US politics?

Long-term change is possible, says Johnston, the historian, but it doesn’t happen overnight. He added, “Time and time again, we’ve seen student organizing change policy, not always quickly, and not always in the way students had hoped. But we see that when student organizing is ramped up, it can have a significant impact.”

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