Parliamentary reporter Karl Nerenberg opens 2018 with a special historical series, which looks forward to the coming year in politics by looking back. In this collection of articles, we travel back through 50 years of history, one decade at a time. Read the full series, spanning 1968-2018, here.

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Looking forward by looking back -- 1968, part two
Karl Nerenberg | In 1968, a U.S president was forced from office, a west African country was enflamed in civil war, and a new prime minister engendered high expectations Canada.
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Cholon after Tet Offensive operations, 1968. Photo: United States Army Center of Military History/Wikipedia
Looking forward by looking back -- 1968, a year of uprisings, part one
Karl Nerenberg | There were assassinations, massacres, protests and a near-revolution in France -- 1968 was a year of drama and crisis. We still live with the consequences.
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More details Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau of Canada, Jimmy Carter, Margaret Trudeau and Rosalynn Carter at State Visit arrival. Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Looking forward by looking back -- 1978
Karl Nerenberg | Pierre Trudeau had been in power for 10 years. Nigeria moved toward a (brief) return to democracy. And René Lévesque prepared the ground for 1980's referendum on Quebec independence.
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Photograph of The Reagans and Mulroneys in Quebec in 1985. Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Looking forward by looking back, 1988 -- Part 2
Karl Nerenberg | Brian Mulroney is remembered for his unctuous manner and the whiff of corruption that surrounded him. In fact, his was a consequential government. Part 2 of 2.
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November 1988 federal election rally in Calgary. With Mayor Ralph Klein, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Premier Don Getty, and former Prime Minister Joe Clark
Looking forward by looking back, 1988 -- Part 1
Karl Nerenberg | Brian Mulroney is remembered for his unctuous manner and the whiff of corruption that surrounded him. In fact, his was a consequential government. Part 1 of 2.
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Photo: Wikimedia
Moving forward by looking back, 1998
Karl Nerenberg | In 1998, it looked like Jean Chrétien and his Liberals could remain in power forever. With his response to the near loss of the 1995 referendum, however, Chrétien sowed the seeds of his party's demise
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Canada 2008: Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a meet-and-greet. Photo: Andrew d'Entremeont
Looking forward by looking back, starting with 2008
Karl Nerenberg | Ten years ago we had a federal election, the great recession and a prorogation crisis. As well, Justin Trudeau won his first election.