Following the contributions to the debate on the role of ‘1968’ as a cultural revolution by Detlef Siegfried and Arndt Neumann, this article takes a broader look at the global revolt of the 1960s. The global revolt had its roots in Third World struggles, mainly in the Cuban revolution. Also, ‘1968’ should not be viewed in isolation but seen as part of long-term social struggles (in this context, reference is made to youth cultures and working class cultural movements). The Janus-faced character of ‘1968’ comprises both the genealogy of ‘1968’ and its political legacy, including the ways in which this legacy is being used to re-legitimize elites.