While Gen Z is often dismissed as politically indifferent, a deeper look suggests this apathy is a manufactured outcome of neoliberalism. Reclaiming campus democracy is essential for nurturing true citizens.
- Gen Z's perceived political apathy may be a structural result of neoliberal strategies.
- The absence of student unions transforms campuses from democratic hubs into training grounds for obedient labor.
- Neoliberalism shifts the focus from collective rights to individual consumerism.
- Recent protests, like those at Jantar Mantar, prove Gen Z is ready for mobilization when the cause is relevant.
In recent state assembly elections across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, a recurring theme has emerged: the engagement—or lack thereof—of Gen Z. This generation is frequently labeled as 'apolitical,' characterized by a preoccupation with the immediate present rather than long-term political structures. However, this label may be a misunderstanding of a much deeper systemic issue.
Since the 1990s, a process of gradual depoliticization has been engineered through neo-liberal capitalism. This system treats citizens as consumers, reframing systemic crises like unemployment and housing into individual failures. By promoting extreme individualism, the collective power required for political change is systematically eroded.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the shrinking of the temporal horizon—a 'culture of nano-impulsiveness'—makes Gen Z vulnerable to personality cults and social media-driven manufactured consent. Without institutional spaces like student unions, young people are more likely to vote for a 'face' or a 'moment' rather than a coherent political program.
Education is not a factory floor; a campus without politics produces obedient labour, not democratic citizens.
The Jantar Mantar protests regarding the NEET-UG examination irregularities in the summer of 2026 served as a powerful rebuttal to the 'apathetic youth' narrative. Thousands of students mobilized, utilizing peer-to-peer Bluetooth mesh networks to bypass government-imposed internet shutdowns. This demonstrated that Gen Z is not inherently anti-political; they are simply waiting for causes that resonate with their lived realities.
There is a stark contrast in how different states handle student engagement. While West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have banned student elections for years, Kerala remains an outlier by maintaining regular student union elections. These elections are crucial because they cultivate a politically literate constituency capable of moving beyond identities of caste or religion toward demands for education and employment.
The irony remains that many political parties, which themselves rose from the ashes of student movements, are now the primary architects of banning student unions. By suppressing campus democracy, the state is effectively stifling the very engine of democratic engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are student unions being banned in many Indian states?
Political entities often view student activism as a disruption to the status quo and a threat to established power structures.
2. How does neoliberalism affect political engagement?
It shifts the focus from collective social rights to individual consumer choices, making systemic political reform feel unnecessary to the individual.
