The 1968 Movement in Mexico ‎- A Documentary Study-‎

Rabia Ahmed, Saba

doi:10.37653/juah.2024.144873.1260

	The 1968 Movement in Mexico ‎- A Documentary Study-‎
Journal of University of Anbar for Humanities
Volume 2025, Issue 2, June 2025, Pages 452-473 PDF (4.34 M)
Document Type: Review Paper
DOI: 10.37653/juah.2024.144873.1260
Author
Saba Rabia Ahmed^*
University of Anbar
Abstract
Aims: This study aims to investigate the historical importance of the 1968 movement in Mexico, which represented a pivotal turning point in the country's political and social history. This movement came as a result to the accumulation of repressive policies pursued by the Mexican regime, led by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, against the regime and seeking for social justice. The importance of this movement lies in the fact that it represented the first organized mass confrontation against the ruling authority, making it a pivotal event in the development of Mexican political consciousness. Methodology: The study adopted the historical-analytical approach, by collecting and analyzing official American documents related to the 1968 movement, including the political data and reports contained therein, with the aim of reconstructing a comprehensive picture of the movement's events, its internal and external context, and the extent of US interaction with developments within Mexico. Results: Following the analysis of the data that the researchers had gotten, the results showed that the demands were focusing on the construction, focusing on issues such as academic freedom, ending the militarization of universities, and unleashing public freedoms. However, the ruling regime met these peaceful demands with a bloody response, represented by the Tlatelolco Square massacre, which claimed the lives of hundreds of unarmed civilians, deeply shocking Mexican and international public opinion alike. Conclusions: Although the movement failed to bring about immediate political change, it paved the way for the growth of political awareness among subsequent generations, contributed to strengthening the culture of demanding rights, and exposed the nature of the authoritarian regime, which subsequently contributed to the formation of more organized and bold social movements.
Keywords
Student Movement; Mexico 1968; Communism; National Strike ‎Council; ‎Silent March; Olympic Games; Tlatelolco ‎

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