Four Dead in Ohio: The Global Legacy of Youth Activism and State Repression

This Special Issue of Research in Social Movements, Conflicts, and Change examines global student and youth activism 50 years after the Kent State shootings, focusing on how youths mobilized for change, faced repression, and were commemorated. It highlights the need for narratives of those who have fought for change.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 06 July 2021
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

This Special Issue of Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change takes a moment to reflect upon the global student and youth activism that has taken place over the past 50 years, particularly in light of the infamous May 4, 1970 National Guard shootings at Kent State University in Ohio, USA. This event brought attention to the issue of state violence and the efforts of young people to build peace in the face of opposition. However, it is important to note that this was not the first nor the last time that student movements faced violent opposition during their protests for social, economic, political, and structural change.

The purpose of this volume is to examine how youth have mobilized for change, faced repressive measures, and been commemorated in the wake of these events. The first section of the volume focuses on how society views and responds to youth and student political engagement. Chapters explore the mobilization of global movements, the challenges posed by fear and constraints on youth activism, and the development of student peace programming.

The second section highlights the violent repression of students and youth across the world. Chapters examine how student movements evolve in response to violence, the strategies employed by activists, and the impact of these repressive measures on the broader social and political landscape.

The final section of the volume examines the contestation and commemoration of activism and violence. Chapters explore the ways in which youth and student activists have resisted and challenged oppressive systems, the ways in which their memories and legacies are preserved, and the challenges faced in commemorating their struggles and achievements.

Overall, this Special Issue provides a much-needed space for the narratives of those youths and students who have fought, and continue to fight, for change. It sheds light on the ongoing struggles and challenges faced by young people in their pursuit of a more just and equitable world and serves as a reminder of the importance of their contributions to social and political movements.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800718081