The West German SDS was a leftist student movement that, although primarily based on their own, national issues and outdated structures and institutions, was deeply invested in the fate of Third world countries and the wars that disrupted them. They were only one part of a larger, nearly global movement that demanded freedom for former colonies, less interference from Western countries and the overturn of capitalist forces and structures. One case in which these circumstances appear especially potent, and which gave this movement much of its impetus, was the Vietnam war. How was the SDS influenced by international trends and transnational activism in their protests against the Vietnam war?
The Vietnam war was in many ways a watershed event that exacerbated existing criticisms about American influence on the world while bringing up new ones, serving as a unifier for global movements. Accordingly, the primary focus of this text is the peace activism of the SDS and their engagement against the Vietnam war. Although often considered a socio-economic concept, due to the matter at hand the concept of the "Third World", which Vietnam was part of, has to be understood in a political, specifically anti-war way. Because of that, the SDS's activism in this area combined both Third World- and peace activism as one and was influenced by actors that operated in both of these spheres. Besides the Post-War context illustrating the local situation, the context of the Cold War is instrumental to understanding their international linkages and the place the protest movements came from. Through these contexts, opinions about the Vietnam war, the future of their own state and conceptual considerations of the identity of their movements were formed. All alliances that the SDS made and all the inspirations they drew from others have to considered within this larger international context.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- 1. The SDS enters the international sphere of leftist Vietnam activism
- SDS actions really took off roughly in 1967, when the students began confronting their professors with sit-ins, teach-ins and other forms of protest.
- 2. Translating theory into practice
- The SDS's Vietnam protests did not emerge out of the blue.
- However, the Cold War was only one source of influence on the students.
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text examines the West German SDS's engagement in peace activism and their opposition to the Vietnam War. It explores the influence of international trends and transnational activism on the SDS's belief system and actions. The study aims to understand how the SDS, a primarily national-focused student movement, was drawn into the global anti-war movement and what transnational connections informed their activism.
- The influence of international trends and transnational activism on the SDS's anti-Vietnam War activism.
- The role of the Cold War and divided Germany in shaping the SDS's stance on the Vietnam War.
- The relationship between the SDS's anti-war activism and the "Third World" concept.
- The impact of transnational networks on the SDS's actions and beliefs.
- The significance of the SDS's protests and their place within the broader global student movement.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the context of the West German SDS's engagement in the anti-Vietnam War movement, highlighting its connection to wider global trends and criticisms of Western imperialism. The first chapter examines the SDS's entry into the international sphere of leftist activism surrounding the Vietnam War, analyzing the development of their beliefs and how they positioned themselves within the international leftist field. The chapter explores the early actions of the SDS, their criticisms of Cold War structures, and the influence of key figures like Rudi Dutschke. The second chapter delves into the specifics of the SDS's Vietnam activism, emphasizing the transnational influences and connections that shaped their actions. The chapter examines the impact of the Cold War, the Cold War context, and the role of transnational networks on the SDS's protests and their anti-war agenda.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The text focuses on the West German SDS, peace activism, Third World activism, the Vietnam War, transnational influences, leftist student movement, Cold War, and the impact of international trends on student activism.
- Quote paper
- Cornelia Jürgens (Author), 2021, Transnational influences on student activism. The West German SDS and its peace and third world activism against the Vietnam War, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1119523
