1968: Radical Protest and Its Enemies

A major new history of one of the seminal years in the postwar world, when rebellion and disaffection broke out on an extraordinary scale.

The year 1968 saw an extraordinary range of protests across much of the western world. Some of these were genuinely revolutionary—around ten million French workers went on strike and the whole state teetered on the brink of collapse. Others were more easily contained, but had profound longer-term implications—terrorist groups, feminist collectives, gay rights activists could all trace important roots to 1968.

1968 is a striking and original attempt half a century later to show how these events, which in some ways still seem so current, stemmed from histories and societies which are in practice now extraordinarily remote from our own time. 1968 pursues the story into the 1970s to show both the ever more violent forms of radicalization that stemmed from 1968 and the brutal reaction that brought the era to an end.

1968 saw an extraordinary range of protests across much of the Western world. Some of these were genuinely revolutionary—around ten million French workers went on strike and the whole state teetered on the brink of collapse. Others were more easily contained but had profound, longer-term implications: terrorist groups, feminist collectives, and gay rights activists can all trace important roots to 1968. Bill Clinton and even Tony Blair are, in many ways, products of that year.

1968 is a striking and original attempt, half a century later, to show how these events, from anti-war marches in the United States to revolts against Soviet oppression in Eastern Europe—which in some respects still seem so current—stemmed from histories and societies that are in practice now extraordinarily remote from our own time. Richard Vinen pursues the story into the 1970s to show both the ever more violent forms of radicalization that arose from 1968 and the brutal reactions from those in power that brought the era to an end.

“[R]ich in distinct and acute observations. . . he constructs a new spectrum through which to view 1968’s epic tide of change….Vinen…provide[s]…sophisticated interpretations.” - Booklist, featured review

“[A] fine book on the various strands of protest and opposition.... Vinen is a sharp scholar, and his geographical and thematic approaches are useful for those with some sense of the larger stories of 1968.... [he] provides a well-written, deeply considered work on a year that seems increasingly immediate in both its impact and implications.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Easily the very best of the new published [books] being considered here.” - New Republic

“1968 provides a broad overview, sprinkled with salient details…. a good starting point for people wanting to learn more about the struggles so frequently cited as analogous to the ones playing out now.” - The Clyde Fitch Report