Cultural Results of the Youth Revolution

Abstract

The review of the book “The Long '68: Radical Protest and its Enemies” (Moscow: Alpina non-fiction, 2020, 627 p.) by R. Vainen, analyzes the contribution that the author made to the study of the problems of social disturbances in the West in 1968 and their further consequences. R. Vainen rightly points out that what happened can be likened to a world revolution - like the revolution of 1848 in Europe.  The author also does not hide his sympathies and dislikes, taking a very clear political position, although some of his assessments and accents (in particular, the arbitrary exclusion from the analysis of Italy and Japan) may cause objections. In addition, the author was well aware that the youth of «68» believed that it was the West to blame for the troubles of the third world countries. This meant that developing countries should, first, «be left alone», given complete freedom to choose, and, secondly, they should be given means for economic development. Of course, the reader may or may not share the concept presented in the study of the English professor, but in any case it is of interest. Also, some adjustments are possible to Vainen’s analysis of the prospects of the «long» 68th: it seems that these prospects can be extended to the position and indoctrination of the «new right» both in the United States and in other countries. But in general, Richard Vainen is right that 1968 became the touchstone of the most acute ideological struggle, which gave to many in the world new role models and inspiration.

Keywords:

«revolution» of '68, «new left», civil rights movement, protests against the Vietnam War, student movement, youth subculture, sexual revolution and its consequences, the Americanization of Europe