Lecture on the 1968 French Revolution and Social Unrest

Introduction to the Period

• 1968: A year of global unrest in industrial societies after two decades of growth
• Urban centers like Berkeley, New York, Tokyo, Rome, and more, become centers of cultural unrest
• France, under Charles de Gaulle, appears stable with 10 years of political stability and economic expansion

Origins of French Student Unrest

• De Gaulle’s expansion of university facilities without reforming the authoritarian structure
• Students, primarily from upper-middle-class backgrounds, find disparities between their education and social environment
• Agitation among students for university reform, leading to broader calls for societal change

Key Events Leading to Mass Protests

• May 2nd: Closure of the Nanterre campus by the rector
• May 3rd: Police occupy Sorbonne; clashes with students begin
• May 9th: Militant left rallies; international solidarity with students from other European countries

Escalation of Protests

• May 10th: Students build barricades, reminiscent of past revolutions
• Public opinion supports students; government hesitates
• Using cobblestones and barricades as symbols of defiance

Media’s Role in the Protests

• Radio coverage unintentionally aids student coordination
• Mass media begins playing a significant role in the unfolding drama

Nationwide Worker Involvement

• May 13th: Workers join students in massive demonstrations
• The largest street demonstrations since 1936
• Demonstrations show indifference to the traditional symbols of authority

Collapse of Authority in the Latin Quarter

• Students take charge of the Sorbonne; traditional academic functions cease
• Endless discussions on the roles within the university and society
• Creation of action committees and student soviets

Spread of Protest Beyond Universities

• Seizure of the Odeon Theatre, symbolizing the spread into cultural sectors
• Occupation of various professional and cultural organizations

Government’s Response and Political Crisis

• May 24th: De Gaulle calls for plebiscite; government strategy fails
• May 27th: Large economic gains for workers; union leaders satisfied but rank and file reject
• 10 million workers on strike, leading to a full-scale political crisis

The Dynamics of a Possible Revolution

• May 30th: De Gaulle addresses the nation; calls for elections
• Demonstrations both for and against de Gaulle fill the streets
• June 1st: Anti-de Gaulle rally, but the revolutionary threat wanes

Conclusion: The Aftermath of the 1968 Unrest

• De Gaulle’s party wins the 1968 elections; however, his referendum is defeated in 1969 leading to his resignation
• The protest movements changed patterns, attitudes, and some institutions
• May 1968 remains a pivotal and living part of French social memory
• Reveals fragility in modern industrial societies, but also the challenges of rapid social transformation

Key Themes and Symbols

• Importance of media in shaping and spreading the movement
• Use of traditional revolutionary symbols and their new meanings
• Emphasis on open-ended processes rather than fixed ideological models

These notes capture the complex interplay of social, political, and cultural factors in the 1968 French unrest, highlighting its significance as a transformative period in modern France.