THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW SOCIETY Rapid change in Western society New technology  alters pace and nature of society Scientific advances Rapid economic growth The 1960’s youth uprising Women argue for equal rights

THE STRUCTURE OF EUROPEAN SOCIETY New middle class Managers and technicians Specialized knowledge and education Focus on effective administration Continuing growth of big business and big govt The lower class Dramatic shift from rural to urban Rise in wages Working class consume like middle class Shorter work hours + more leisure Commercialized music, sports and media  aimed at the masses

CREATION OF THE WELFARE STATE Goals of the welfare state This cartoon was produced soon after the Chancellor's report on government spending (see 1956 Cabinet memorandum on benefit costs). The central figure is the Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. The flags in the globe represent British commitments of troops abroad: 'East of Suez' refers to various commitments in Asia; BAOR stands for British Army of the Rhine. Britain had substantial armed forces in Germany to counter possible threat of invasion from the Communist countries of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Eliminate poverty and homelessness Medical services for all Take care of older/retired Free education for all Based on the ideal the society had a responsibility to care for all its citizens Govt benefits were extended and new ones creates

THE COSTS OF THE WELFARE STATE? The welfare state vastly increased the amount of money spent on social services By the 1980’s – 40 or 50% of GNP spent on social welfare programs Small group of people said citizens were becoming too dependent on the state “A claim for equality of material position can be met only by a government with totalitarian powers.” Friedrich August von Hayek “From the saintly and single-minded idealist to the fanatic is often but a step.”

WOMEN IN THE POSTWAR WORLD After WW II a temporary return to traditional family and work patterns The “baby boom”  massive rise in birth rate after the war Decline in birthrates in 1960’s = widespread use of birth control = “the pill” = oral contraceptive Smaller families  more married women working

THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT – THE SEARCH FOR LIBERATION Revival in movement for expansion of women’s right = “women’s liberation” movement = modern feminism Simone de Beauvoir Betty Friedan NOW = National Organization for Women created in 1966

THE PERMISSIVE SOCIETY Changes in morals and manners The “sexual revolution” of the 60’s Sex education in schools Loosening/elimination of restrictions on movies, plays, books The rise of pornography Birth control = freedom in sexual behavior

BREAKDOWN IN THE TRADTIONAL FAMILY 1960’s Rise in divorce rates Substantial rise in premarital and extramarital sex

EMERGENCE OF THE DRUG CULTURE OF THE 1960’s Rise of recreational drug use by young people Timothy Leary and LSD – people advocated hallucinogenic drugs  expanding consciousness Sex and drugs among the youth = hippies! Youth rebellion = question authority/rebel against older generation

EDUCATION AND STUDENT REVOLT The hippie movement and protests against Vietnam War spreads to Europe Outburst of student revolts in the late 60’s Most famous student revolt was in France Student radicalism concerned with Reforming universities Protesting the Vietnam War/protesting imperialism Attacking Western materialism and consumerism = anti-capitalist

THE FAILURE OF THE HIPPIES!! Student revolts and hippie movement fizzled out in the 1970’s  spoiled middle class college students had to grow up and get jobs Your revolution is over, Mr. Lebowski. Condolences. The bums lost. My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me, Lebowski? THE BIG LEBOWSKI