Their concern, at least for the present, is for higher education. The power of student protest lies in the ability of students to mobilize the campuses and to reflect the frustrations and concerns of the population, and especially of the educated middle classes. In countries without functioning democratic systems and freedom of expression, student movements can reflect simmering social unrest, and serve as a catalyst of social change or even revolution. It has happened before, and it can happen again. 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.