Fifty years since 1968 . . . what we’ve learned

During the nineteenth century, the moniker “48-ers” referred to those who participated in the European-wide revolutionary ferment of 1848 (the year of publication of the Communist Manifesto). During the latter part of the twentieth century, activists of my generation were proud to identify as “68-ers,” a badge of honor signaling that we had manned the barricades (literally or figuratively) during the global ferment of 1968.

That was fifty years ago. I had just started college and was among the many who felt that revolution was in the air. But our conception of social transformation was notably different from the one presented in the Communist Manifesto. In the wake of the ’68 upheavals Charles Reich would write: “There is a revolution coming. It will not be like revolutions of the past. Its ultimate creation will be a new and enduring wholeness and beauty — a renewed relationship to the Self, to society, to nature, and to the land.” (from: The Greening of America, 1970)

Reich’s quote gives a sense that the idea of “greening” involves far more than just environmental remediation — and, certainly, more than just electoral victories. Lessons that started to be assimilated during The Sixties, and awarenesses that have deepened ever since, suggest that social transformation must encompass the holistic revitalization of politics, economics, social relations, and community life — in addition to environmental stewardship.

These awarenesses were the basis for the foundation of the Green politics movement during the 1970s. They’re aptly summarized in the values that remain key to our movement: Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Community-based Economics, Feminism, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, Future Focus/Sustainability. They reflect the coming-of-age of social change theory and praxis since the ‘48-ers, and then the ‘68-ers, were crying out for A Better World.

1968 ended ignominiously with the election of Richard Nixon, the escalation of the Vietnam war, the indictment of the Chicago Convention protest leaders, and the disintegration of SDS, the main student activist organization. The need for the development of a new social change paradigm was evident. Fifty years later it can be said that we’ve taken a number of critical steps in that direction. Many on the left now disdain the old sectarianism. Our sense of historical perspective has broadened. Our explication of the problems confronting people and the planet has deepened. Revolution of the barricades variety is no longer in the air. Instead, we draw encouragement from recognizing how the “greening” process is gradually taking root, generation by generation, manifesting in various arenas of social change activity.

(this article appeared in the Fall 2018 issue of Green Horizon Magazine)