1968: The Year That Rocked The World

1968: The Year That Rocked The World

The book, 1968: The year that rocked the world, was written by Mark Kurlansky and published by Ballantine books. The book gives an enlightening and entertaining history of 1968.Actually, Mark Kurlansky’s book exhibits the cultural life and political history characterized by social upheaval. The aim of the book was to bring out the 1968 social, cultural and political events that shaped the world.

1968 was the year that rocked the world. The year was characterized by the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and Martin lither King, the Chicago convention, Prague spring, anti war movement, the generation gap, the student rebellion that paralyzed France, birth of women’s movement, Tet offensive, and the beginning of the collapse of Soviet Union. During this year, the impact of television on global affairs was vivid and greatly influenced the political and cultural aspects of the people. Spontaneous global uprising occurred, with major impacts being felt in London, Prague, Paris, Chicago, Berkeley, and New York. Rock and roll, Drugs and sex defined people’s social lives.Generally, the book, 1968: The year that rocked the world consist of politics, economics, assassinations, youth and music, riots, demonstration and the media, and shows how the events shaped the contemporary global  political, economical, and social environment.

1968: the year that rocked the world has numerous themes, most of which have great connection with the contemporary economic, social and political environment. The themes of war, genocide and assassination, the media, ideological difference, and protests and riots vividly show that 1968 was the year that had a conspicuous mark in global affairs and influenced events and reforms that followed later.

 Themes

War

The theme of war takes a center stage in Marks book. In 1968, there was the Vietnam War that was characterized by Tet offensive, one of the most unpopular wars that resulted in death of many US soldiers and millions of Vietnam civilian population. United States learnt a major strategic lesson from the war where adequate plans and sufficient intelligence in enemy’s ground is needed before engaging in any war. During this period, anti- war movement provided a route in which oppressed people, who did not know how to present their grievances, expressed their dissenting voices that resulted in constructive political organizations.

Genocide and assassination

The year was marked by two major assassinations .These were the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King, a leader of African American civil right movement was assassinate at the balcony of his hotel in Memphis while Robert F. Kennedy, a brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy and a US senator, was assassinated in Los Angeles. The killing of Bobby Kennedy was significant in shaping the election year that saw Richard Nixon elected as president while Martin Luther King assassination caused the civil rights movement to heat up and take a turn towards violence. The book also highlights a number of genocides such as those committed by eastern block troops to violently suppress uprisings in Czech Republic.

The media

The influence of television on global events was experienced for the first time and played a key role in influencing anti war sentiments.1968 was the first global year because of instan.............