Present at the Creation and Other Myths: The Port Huron Statement and the Origins of the New Left

In: Socialist review: SR, Band 27, Heft 1-2, S. 1-27

Abstract

Discusses the 1962 Port Huron (MI) Statement of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to argue that its common misinterpretation as the origin of the New Left has led to misconceptions. The 1960s social movements included SDS, a student Left that pre-dated SDS, & the older, pacifist Left that dominated most peace coalitions. It is contended that scholars have overestimated the split with the Old Left indicated in the Port Huron Statement, underestimated the impact of pacifism on the New Left, & wrongly dismissed the influence of those who joined SDS after 1965. The nature of the Old Left is examined, along with the social context at the time of the New Left's emergence & political ideas that separated the two. It is contended that the New Left began in the 1950s as a protest against the Cold War, shifted to issues of power & hopes of merging the peace & civil rights movements, but retreated to a modified liberalism after 1968. J. Lindroth