Power, Resistance, and Universities: The Case of the 2024 Palestinian Solidarity Encampments in Canada

Abstract

The Palestinian solidarity encampments of 2024 became one of the largest student movements in recent Canadian history, prompting debates surrounding university governance, policing, media representation, and student activism. This research examines the experiences of students who participated in the encampments at the University of Ottawa and McGill University. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants to explore their motivations for participating, their experiences within the encampments, and their perceptions of institutional responses, policing, surveillance, and media representation. This thesis aims to contribute to the growing literature on student activism, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, and the governance of dissent in Canadian higher education.