Concentrating on the importance of universities as pivotal sites of access and the unfettered exchange of ideas, the authors explore the forms of influence and historical opposition to extreme right-wing policy on higher education.  Drawing on the experiences of South Africa’s University of the Western Cape (UWC) during apartheid, the book documents how the institution resisted prolonged government attacks on its mission, autonomy, and administrative functioning. Examining collaboratively the impact of state control and fiscal disciplining on UWC, the book provides an immersive analysis of student mobilisation, pedagogy, and academic leadership. Universities and colleges in the US and elsewhere are currently wrestling with state mandates eroding control over admissions, teaching and research. Revisiting UWC's battle with the apartheid regime illuminates what is at stake for students and higher education institutions committed to nurturing democracy, critical thinking, and engaged citizens.