There were multiple issues that contributed to the popularity of a wide range of social movements in different parts of the world in the 1960s. In most cases, they were centered around the diminished economic opportunities, various types of inequality, and the growing role of the state. Nevertheless, there have historically been considerable differences in the development of such movements and reasons for large-scale street protests. Thus, the issues that underpin social unrest in 1968 varied significantly from state to state. Therefore, it is crucial to realize all the social phenomena that underlay them several decades ago.
In Eastern Europe, despite the immense power of the communist governments, several uprisings that shared common trends took place. First, they were largely working-class protests against food shortages and other economic issues. Then, according to Carey (2016), they became centered around anti-Communism (often supported by the Catholic Church). In Czechoslovakia, the government’s enthusiastic cooperation with progressive sectors of the population led to a series of political reforms that could not be tolerated by the neighboring Communist regimes during the Cold War. Thus, the limits of protests were often determined by foreign powers in Eastern Europe.
In China, meanwhile, numerous political movements represented predominantly by the youth had a remarkable effect on the society as well, with one significant difference – Mao Zedong and the government inspired them. The country’s leadership claimed that bourgeois elements sought to restore capitalism. The youth rapidly formed Red Gourds and “rebel groups”, as Mao Zedong claimed that “to rebel is justified”.
At the same time, protests took place in the streets of Mexico. Initiated by students, they soon were supported by completely different social strata, as the government’s policies used to be remarkably authoritarian. The confrontation lasted for several months, with government implementing various strategies. There was a number of violent episodes that significantly altered the movement and its consequences, such as the attack on a peaceful demonstration, known as the Tlatelolco Massacre. Although the protests rooted in student activism prior to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City did not bring immediate changes, they had a profound effect on the development of Mexican society. The population no longer tolerated the authoritarian style and was ready to contribute to the establishment of a democratic society.
Reference
Carey, E. (2016). Protests in the streets: 1968 across the globe. Hackett Publishing.