Strikes, general assemblies and institutional insurgency; explaining the persistence of the Québec student movement

In this article published in Social Movement Studies, I look at the longetivity of the Québec student movement and its resisitance to the Iron Law of Oligarchy. A combination of organizational prowess, legal protections and adherence to a militant ideology known as ‘combative syndicalism’ helps to keep the organziations which comprise the Québec student movement radical and maintain their mobilization potential.

Abstract: Why have Québec student organizations resisted oligarchization, conservativism, complacency and demobilization since the late 1960’s? The Québec student movement has remained both radical and highly mobilized for over five decades, going on 10 unlimited student strikes and numerous other large-scale mobilizations since 1968, while the organizations which make up the movement have remained radical and non-oligarchical, maintaining similar organizational structures, beliefs and tactics since then. What explains the continuance of their radicalism and mobilization throughout this 50 plus year period? This paper explores the Québec student movements ability to circumvent the processes of oligarchization, conservativism and de-mobilization typically believed to affect social movement organizations as they age, grow and interact with government institutions. It will be argued that three major factors can explain this divergence. Firstly, the Québec student movements organization into large, highly funded, and ideologically radical student federations. Secondly, a unique legal context which protects and empowers student unions and thirdly their ideological subscription to ‘combative syndicalism’ and its embodiment through unique organizational structures; a weak executive system, holding general assemblies and the propensity to use the strike as a social movement tactic. All of this mitigates against the emergence of oligarchy, conservativism and demobilization while acting as abeyance structures helping the movement maintain its radicalism.