Comment: The 19th century French critic and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”—the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Fifty-six years separate the 1968 and 2024 Democratic Party National Conventions. But consider the following.

The Democratic US President, after having been elected to his first term in office three years earlier, decides to run for a second term. Months later, though, he chooses to pull out of the race, announcing this live on television to a national audience.

In the meantime, Robert F Kennedy announces his intention to seek the Democratic Party nomination for president, in opposition to the incumbent president, reflecting growing discontent within the party and a desire for a new direction.

Giving the Democrats a ray of hope is the fact that the Republican party’s nominee, an erstwhile protégé of the unscrupulous lawyer Roy Cohn (who advised Richard Nixon and Donald Trump), is disliked by a sizeable segment of the electorate, largely because of questions about his honesty and integrity.

At the Democratic Party National Convention in Chicago, because there is nothing binding most to a particular candidate, delegates are in effect free to nominate whomever they choose as the party’s presidential candidate.

No longer in the running is the victor in the party’s California primary (Robert F Kennedy being assassinated), historically a bellwether for the broader direction of the party and considered crucial for any candidate seeking the nomination. (Neither is Robert F Kennedy Jr any longer a candidate for the party’s 2024 nomination for president.)

During the party convention, protests reflecting anti-war sentiments and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice for marginalised groups erupt outside the convention centre, spilling over into the downtown streets of Chicago.

Though the protests are ostensibly aimed at the now lame duck president, the vice-president has come to symbolise entrenched establishment politics in the eyes of many among the protesters. Despite this, convention delegates select the sitting vice-president as their party’s nominee for president.

This scenario describes both the 1968 and 2024 party conventions.

In 1968, President Lyndon B Johnson faced challenges within his party, leading to his decision not to seek re-election. Similarly, in 2024, incumbent President Joe Biden faced primary challenges and growing opposition to his candidacy within the Democratic party, leading to his ultimate decision to withdraw from the race for the US presidency.

In 1968, the US was deeply divided over the war in Vietnam, civil rights issues, and social upheaval. By 2024, polarisation has intensified around issues such as support for the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, race, economic inequality, and social justice. Both years saw strong grassroots movements.

In 1968, there were anti-war, civil rights marches, and a growing counterculture, all of which had a notable impact on the election in November of that year. In 2024, movements focusing on climate change, racial justice, and economic reform are at the forefront of political discourse and are likely to make an impact at the ballot box this November.

The youth demographic also played a significant role in both elections. In 1968, young Americans were pivotal in shaping political debates. In 2024, younger voters are expected to influence key issues, particularly those related to climate change and social justice.

The media landscape in 1968 was transforming with the rise of television, bringing political events into homes. Today, social media and digital platforms have revolutionised how politics is communicated and consumed, shaping public opinion and political campaigns.

Both election years feature charismatic and controversial figures who resonate with segments of the electorate, leading to passionate support as well as opposition. In 1968, figures such as Robert F Kennedy Sr and George Wallace emerged, and in 2024, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris evoke similar strong reactions.

These parallels starkly illustrate the recurrent nature of political dynamics and social movements in American history, underscoring that key issues profoundly resonate across generations and continue to shape the course of the country’s politics.

As Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does often rhyme”.

This article was originally published on Newsroom.

Stephen Blumenfeld is a senior lecturer in the School of Management at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. He witnessed the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests and the violence that erupted between protesters and police.