Students, after all, played a central role in the violent uprising that brought Indonesia's Suharto to power 30 years ago. Students have the greatest potential for major social change in developing countries. Indonesia and Nigeria are classic cases of nations in which the government has limited legitimacy in the eyes of many people. The government was not elected, few outlets for free expression exist, such as an independent press or media, free trade unions, and the regime seldom allows unfettered protest. People cannot vent their political frustration, and the government has no way of gauging public opinion.
Students are the only group capable of mobilizing dissent.
They are congregated on campuses where expression is relatively free. Organizing demonstrations is easy, and campuses are often close to the centers of power. Students are to some extent taught to think for themselves in their courses, and their thoughts sometimes turn to politics. A section of the teaching faculty is often critical of the regime, and willing to express such views to the students. Students reflect, to some extent, the attitudes of their families and, since students come in general come from the educated middle classes, these views have considerable importance.