May 1968 Student Protests in France - Lecture 23

Explore the historical significance of the May 1968 student protests in France in this 50-minute Yale University lecture. Examine how these demonstrations were connected to global protests against the Vietnam War and other Cold War-related issues. Delve into the crisis within the French university system that sparked the student revolt, and analyze how some of these educational challenges persist today. Investigate the progression of student demonstrations, workers' strikes, and their unified stance against the perceived dehumanization brought about by capitalism and technology. Evaluate the Gaullist government's response to the protests and consider why the revolutionary fervor of 1968 may be difficult to replicate in modern times. This lecture, part of the "France Since 1871" course, provides a comprehensive overview of a pivotal moment in French and global history.