Roundtable: The Role of Government in Enabling Social Movements

Session overview

As education systems around the world grapple with complex and evolving challenges, there is growing recognition of the role that social movements can play in catalysing large-scale, sustainable change. At the same time, the role of government in enabling, or at times constraining, these movements remains an area of active inquiry and debate.

This roundtable builds on a year of research collaboration between the Government Outcomes Lab and ShikshaLokam, focused on understanding how governments can effectively engage with and support social movements to improve educational and social outcomes.

Following an initial convening in Oxford in April 2025, which explored the broader dynamics and conditions shaping state–society collaboration, this session will shift towards synthesised learning and practical insight. Participants will engage with emerging findings from the partnership’s research, using the Shikshagraha movement in India as a central reference point.

The discussion will explore:

• What the evidence suggests so far about the role of government in enabling social movements
• What appears actionable in practice, and what remains uncertain or contested
• What questions should guide the next phase of research, policy, and engagement

By bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences, the roundtable aims to deepen collective understanding and inform the next phase of inquiry and action in this field.

Attendance

This is a small, invitation-only roundtable.

If you feel this discussion closely aligns with your work or interests, please reach out to us to express your interest in attending.