lang: en
Summary
In May 1968, French students and workers launched a campaign for educational and social reform, beginning with protests over the closure of the Nanterre campus of the University of Paris. The movement escalated into a general strike involving millions, but ultimately failed to achieve its revolutionary goals, though some university reforms were enacted. President de Gaulle’s party won a majority in the June elections, and life returned to normal.
Background
The campaign began as a student protest over the closing of the University of Paris’ Nanterre campus, which had been shut after months of escalating student demonstrations. Initially, students demanded educational reform, the release of arrested students, and the reopening of the campus, but later called for revolutionary social change, including the fall of the de Gaulle administration. Workers and unions joined, with union leaders seeking improved conditions within the system, while radical students aimed to disrupt the power structure.
What happened
On May 3, 1968, students marched on the Sorbonne to protest the closure of the Nanterre campus. [source: nv-database] Rightist students counter-protested, leading the rector to call police, who cleared the courtyard and checked papers. [source: nv-database] Onlookers thought arrests were being made and threw rocks, sparking a riot; police arrested four students, prompting the rallying cry ‘Libérez nos camarades!’ [source: nv-database]. Police brutality won the movement broad popular support. [source: nv-database] On May 13, huge protests against repression occurred, and on May 14 workers began independent strikes and factory occupations, later joined by the CGT and CFDT unions. [source: nv-database] Within a week, doctors, lawyers, shop workers, and administrators joined the general strike and occupied workplaces. [source: nv-database] Radical students lost control as less radical groups directed the protest. [source: nv-database] On May 30, President de Gaulle announced new legislative elections unless the people were prevented from voting by ‘intimidation, intoxication, and tyranny.’ The campaign lost momentum as one demand had been a new election, and people returned to work. [source: nv-database] Radical student groups continued protests, which became more violent, turning public opinion against them. [source: nv-database] In the June 23 elections, de Gaulle’s party won a majority with more seats than before, and life returned to normal [source: nv-database].
Key people & organizations
- Daniel Cohn-Bendit
- Jaques Sauvageot
- Union Nationale des Etudiants de France (UNEF)
- Alain Geismar
- SNESup
- Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT)
- Confederation Française Démocratique de Travail (CFDT)
- President Charles de Gaulle
Tactics used
The campaign combined marches, assemblies, protest strikes, general strikes, and nonviolent occupations, escalating from student protests to a nationwide general strike. The use of brutal police repression to generate moral outrage helped broaden support and sustain the movement. [source: nv-database]
Outcome
Verdict: partial.
The campaign was largely unsuccessful in achieving its revolutionary goals, as de Gaulle was easily reelected and his party gained seats. However, the government passed new bills that changed the structure of the university system and other aspects of social life, indicating partial success [source: nv-database].
Lessons
- Police brutality can be used to generate moral outrage and broaden popular support.
- Incorporating diverse sectors of society can strengthen a campaign but may lead to loss of control by initial organizers.
- A government’s offer of elections can defuse a protest movement by appearing to address demands for political change.
Sources
- Global Nonviolent Action Database —
[[nv-database]]
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via
worker_casestudies_v2.py