THE SPIRIT OF MAY

The generally pleased American reaction to The American Challenge (1968, p. 636) was undoubtedly prompted by relief that the French journalist's exhortation to France to get cracking economically involved no Soviet or Far Eastern models, but rather flatteringly, our own. In this brief essay, the author uses the explosive riots in France last May to underscore his basic thesis--an economic leap forward is an increasingly urgent necessity. He feels that the students, workers, et al, tramping through Paris, had a valid complaint. Because of a lack of confidence in a hierarchical structure of closed institutions and special privileges coupled with a stagnant economic situation, there is little hope for individual progress. M. Servan-Schreiber pleads for a breakdown of national structures into free-flowing pan-European industrial and economic complexes with a pooling of technology and research, and a common front in negotiations outside Europe. He also looks forward to a truly ""participating"" labor force, to democratization on all levels, including universities. Although he may have ignored some of the deeper malaises which have also assaulted our industrially booming society recently, this is a possible post-de Gaullian approach--bound to receive press attention.