Anti-CPE Movement in France 2006

In 2006, French students mobilized against the CPE (First Employment Contract) and succeeded in pushing back the bourgeoisie, which withdrew the CPE in April—merely a few months after the legislation had been passed. This significant retreat of the bourgeoisie was not accomplished by students alone, but was the result of the merging of students and workers in defense of their class interests. This unity, between the working class and their children, is fundamental in understanding the fear the bourgeoisie felt in face of the proletariat. It is illustrative of the awakening necessary for future mobilizations.

This pivotal event has largely passed through the US media without so much of a whisper. Even within politically aware circles, the details and importance of this event often takes a back seat to better known, and even more recent, proletarian uprisings such as that in Greece 2008. Regardless, the lessons of the anti-CPE struggle are relevant to proletarian organizations as they regroup and learn lessons from their past. This is especially important in the context of the developing student movement in California, as it struggles with isolation and derailment off of the class terrain.

It is with this in mind that the ICC is hosting a series of public forums on the west coast to discuss these events. The ICC held similar discussions two years ago about 'the international context of May 1968' (http://internationalism.org).

The main references are:
International Review n°125 'Thesis on the spring 2006 students' movement in France, 2nd quarter 2006 (http://en.internationalism.org/ir/125_france_students)

ICC Online 'Notes from the students' struggles in France', 19th March 2006 (http://en.internationalism.org/icconline/2006/french-students-movement)

And also:
World Revolution 'Movement against CPE: a rich experience for future struggles', 23 April 2006 (http://en.internationalism.org/wr/294_cpe)

ICC intervention in the movement against CPE, June 2006 (http://en.internationalism.org/wr/296_cpe_intervention)

This event is hosted in collaboration with the Red & Black Reading Room of the Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library.

This event is free.