May 1968

France 1968 – month of revolution. Brutal police repression of student demonstrations. Within days, 10 million French workers are on strike. Factories occupied, red flags flown, the Internationalé ringing out in the streets of Paris. Even the armed forces are infected by the revolutionary mood. The future of French capitalism hangs in the balance.

Cynics imagine that revolutionary upheavals such as these simply do not take place in the West, that the working class and young people here are unwilling to fight. But May 1968 saw what has been described as the greatest general strike in history break out at the heart of Europe.

What caused this mighty explosion of workers’ and students’ anger?
Why did it not succeed in overturning capitalism?
Could history have taken a different course?
Could this happen again today?

Speakers include:

Clare Doyle
Clare is a member of the Socialist Party (CWI England & Wales). She has visited France on many occasions, including in 1968, and is the author of ‘France 1968: month of revolution’. Her work has included traveling to many countries, including living for a period in Russia, and she has written extensively on international issues. She is a convinced and active socialist.

Marie-José Douet
Marie-José became active in Left politics as a student in the 1960s and was a participant in the events of May 1968. She is a member of Gauche Révolutionnaire (CWI France). To this day, she remains a socialist campaigner and her visit to the UK offers an excellent opportunity to hear first hand the effect of the mass movement on workers and young people.