21st century student government at the international level: Eurocentrism and isolationism

Student government at the international level has great potential to improve the quality of education of students around the world. However, in the first quarter of the twenty-first century, it has been hindered by Eurocentrism while much of the world’s students outside of Europe face substantial barriers to participation. I present an autoethnographic analysis drawing from my experience as an elected student representative in multiple international student governments to explore the ways in which the systemic barriers facing student representation beyond campus and national borders manifest and these barriers' impacts on the world’s students. I provide recommendations for ways international student government can improve its capabilities and become more representative and equitable.