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1968 was one of the most crucial years of the 20th century. It was a year that turned the world on its head and marked a turning point for the democracies of the West. 1968 was also a turning point behind the Iron Curtain, with the Prague Spring and the crushing of all hope. 1968 was a year of revolt and violence, with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.

The authors take a look at 1968 from the Hungarian perspective. While the world convulsed, what was going on in Hungary? During the three decades of the Kádár Era, 1968 stood out. The impact of so-called “refrigerator socialism” was already being felt: a relatively high standard of living had materialized, especially in comparison to the 1950’s. Moreover, Western cultural influences, though censured, were seeping through. New products were introduced: Omnia Coffee, Túró Rudi (a curd snack still popular today) and Coca-Cola, which opened a production facility locally. At the same time the armies of the Warsaw Pact, including Hungarian soldiers, invaded Czechoslovakia…

Freedom and oppression: 1968 saw both simultaneously.