THE OUTSIDE OBSERVER OF THE WEST GERMAN SCENE, JUDGING from casual newspaper reports, might be inclined to consider student opposition as a permanent feature of German political life. In fact, student protests and student demonstrations, though a recurring phenomenon in the Federal Republic, have been until recently rather rare and it is difficult to assess their influence on, or real importance for, political life. As a rule student politics whether they take the form of ‘opposition’ or not, are normally an inner-university affair and, at least in relatively stable democracies, come to the attention of public opinion only when they develop into political activity giving emphasis to outstanding critical issues in general politics.