The channels of student activism how the left and right are winning (and losing) in campus politics today By Amy J.Binder and Jeffrey L.Kidder, Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. 2022. pp. 224. Paperback $25.00. ISBN 9780226819877

Over the past decade, a contentious political climate has permeated different aspects of public life, including higher education. Despite the general perception of college campuses as ideologically progressive and the mainstream critique of higher education as too liberal and esoteric, it remains debatable whether campus politics can effectively mobilize young people within these environments. In The Channels of Student Activism, Binder and Kidder explore the role of educational institutions in shaping students' perspectives and the influence of external organizations attempting to steer campus politics. According to the book, while liberal students often outnumber conservatives on campus, their outreach efforts are less connected to national organizations that engage students' academic enterprise. In contrast, conservative groups, despite often being in the minority on campus, maintain strong ties to external institutions that provide them with resources, expertise, and opportunities. This dynamic leads to an increase in political provocations and a subsequent decline in public trust in higher education. Binder and Kidder conducted interviews with 77 student activists from across the political spectrum—left, right, and center—at four different universities. They additionally engage with key organizational actors within academic and external political organizations that support student activism. Their research reveals a contested political landscape where progressives and conservatives leverage their respective strengths, whether through institutional embeddedness or external insurgency, while simultaneously grappling with distinct disadvantages relative to their opponents. The book contains seven chapters; chapters 1 and 2 introduce the landscape of student activism, pointing out the contrasting approaches of progressive and conservative groups that help readers understand the fractured nature of contemporary campus politics. Chapter 3 highlights the underlying motivation of progressive and conservative student clubs. Progressive groups are depicted as concentrating their efforts on influencing administrators to enact policy changes within institutions. Conversely, conservative groups are portrayed as aiming to transform the perspectives of their peers by engaging directly with them to change their beliefs. Chapters 4 and 5 deconstruct conservative and progressive channels of student activism, respectively. They show that the external infrastructure supporting student activism on the left is not as developed as the organizational ecosystem on the right. In chapter 6, the authors explore the divergent approaches to free speech across the political spectrum. External organizations on the right provide scripts that justify offensive expressions under constitutional protections, while far-left students critically question speech rights, often unsettling centrists and liberals. In the end, chapter 7 demonstrates national organizations working with institutions to address political polarization but notes limitations when these groups focus solely on dialogue without moving to coordinated action. Overall, The Channels of Student Activism enriches the field of higher education by providing a comprehensive analysis of how institutional and organizational contexts shape campus politics and offering valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers alike. By highlighting these contrasting strategies of two political groups, the book offers a relatively rare dual perspective in existing literature, providing a nuanced understanding of the different dynamics at play. Regarding readability, despite the complexity of the subject of campus politics, particularly from both left- and right-leaning points, the writing style is clear and engaging. This makes the book accessible not only to professional scholars but also to a general audience interested in political sociology. While the book provides a detailed discussion of student activism, there are some limitations to the scope of the construct. By conducting interviews and case studies, the authors explore the depth of campus politics, while rich in detail, but they primarily focus on four state universities. This focus may limit the capture of diverse strategies and experiences across different types of institutions, such as private and community colleges. A larger sample size, therefore, could have accounted for broader trends in student activism nationwide and enhanced the generalizability of their findings. In addition, some readers may perceive potential bias in the portrayal of liberal versus conservative groups. This is particularly evident when considering the evolving dynamics of administrative responses to student activism. For instance, the book could have benefited from a more nuanced exploration of how universities have adapted their strategies in response to various national and international political events. These occurrences have significantly altered the landscape, often leading to overt hostility or confusion within administrations. The authors' portrayal of administrative actions lacks the critical edge necessary to fully capture the complexities and adversarial nature of these interactions. Another possible constraint is that this book may not be directly applicable to readers seeking a more global perspective on student activism, as its main insights focus on US campuses. However, it would be a significant resource for international scholars who intend to study political sociology in the United States. This book supports university administrators in understanding the different needs and challenges faced by various student groups, which helps them develop more balanced and effective policies, ultimately leading to more equitable structures. The analysis of how different groups operate on campus provides practical guidance for student organizations to adapt accordingly. Through addressing the polarization in campus politics, this book encourages policymakers and university leaders to reduce divisiveness, which is essential for fostering an inclusive campus environment. Ultimately, the book advocates for cross-partisan dialogue and highlights successful examples of such initiatives, encouraging programs to create collaborative spaces for student activism. In summary, the dual approach and detailed empirical insights in The Channels of Student Activism make it a valuable resource for understanding and addressing the complexities of campus politics today. Kiya-Qianhui Ma is a PhD student in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Kansas. Her research focuses on admission policies and the role of standardized assessments, particularly through a data-informed approach to evaluating decision-making in higher education.