The author might want to look into elite overproduction theory.

Same thing happened in Russia in the late 19th and early 20th century. Most of the radical revolutionary groups had a core of highly dedicated and highly educated people.

University students being the most radical and prone to revolution has always been the case.

Elites revolt when they feel that they are getting a bad deal in the existing social order. This happens when the elites which are being produced cannot be absorbed into the existing social hierarchy. That's why unemployed students from elite universities - some of the most intelligent and capable in society, yet they have no income - are the most dangerous - because they have the most to gain from a successful revolution and very little to lose.