Anti-war movement

The term anti-war sometimes refers to pacifism, i.e., opposition to all use of military force during conflicts, but most often is used in the context of opposing one particular nation's decision to wage war. Many activists distinguish between anti-war movements and peace movements. Anti-war activists believe that most wars have an aggressor and that their movement works to ensure that the aggressor (whose goals they see as selfish) ends their war.

Usage

Use of the term can cause confusion:

• is an "anti-war activist" equally opposed to both side's military campaigns or are they choosing one side in particular?
• likewise, does against the war indicate a pacifist objection, or a preference for the victory of one side?

Some uses of anti-war suggest that only one side is waging a particular war, implying that if that party were to withdraw or surrender, the war would cease to exist. Much rhetoric about the role of the United States in the Vietnam War employed this usage, as did that of demonstrators in Russia demanding an end to that nation's involvement in the First World War.

Anti-war movements and pacifist movements are related, but are not one and the same, although members of anti-war campaigns often marshall pacifistic imagery and arguments. Pacifism is the belief that conflict is never acceptable, and that society should not be structured to maintain a stance of readiness to fight in a conflict (See disarmament). While pacifists oppose all war, "anti-war" activists may seek only to get one side to withdraw.

History of modern anti-war movements

American Civil War

Further information: Opposition to the American Civil War

A key event in the early history of the modern anti-war stance in literature and society was the American Civil War, where it culminated in the candidacy of George McClellan for President of the United States as a "Peace Democrat" against incumbent President Abraham Lincoln. The outlines of the anti-war stance are seen: the argument that the costs of maintaining the present conflict are not worth the gains which can be made, the appeal to end the horrors of war, and the argument that war is being waged for the profit of particular interests. During the war, the New York Draft Riots were started violent protests against Abraham Lincoln's Enrollment Act of Conscription plan to draft men to fight in the war. After the war, The Red Badge of Courage described the chaos and sense of death which resulted from the changing style of combat: away from the set engagement, and towards two armies engaging in continuous battle over a wide area.

World War I

With the increasing mechanization of war, opposition to its horrors grew, particularly in the wake of the First World War. The European avante-garde cultural movements such as Dada which were explicitly anti-war. However, many veterans of that war were extremely cynical about the motivations for entering the war, but were willing to fight later in the Spanish Civil War, indicating that pacifism was not always the motivation. These trends were depicted in novels such as All Quiet On The Western Front, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Johnny Got His Gun.

World War II

Further information: Opposition to World War II

World War II seemed, for a time, to set anti-war movements at a distinct social disadvantage; very few, mostly ardent pacificists, argued against World War II and its results at the time. However, the grim realities of modern combat, and the nature of mechanized society insured that the anti-war viewpoint would again find presentation in Catch-22, Slaughterhouse-Five and The Tin Drum. This sentiment grew in strength as the Cold War seemed to present the situation of an unending series of conflicts, which were fought at terrible cost to the younger generations.

Vietnam War

Further information: Opposition to the Vietnam War

It was with the Vietnam War that the most recent incarnation of the Western anti-war movement took shape, to which the political and organizational roots of most of the existing movement can be traced. Characteristics included opposition to the corporate interests perceived as benefiting from war, to the status quo which was trading the lives of the young for the comforts of those who are older, the concept that those who were drafted were from poor families and would be fighting a war in place of privileged individuals who were able to avoid the draft and military service, and to the lack of input in decision making that those who would die in the conflict would have in deciding to engage in it. Many veterans of Vietnam, including US Senator John Kerry, would speak out against the Vietnam conflict on their return to civilian life. The Vietnam War era peace movement was also combined with the contemporaneous youth movement, utilizing much of the energy of young people to mobilize and organize what was a popular attitude without an in depth expression of values or goals. It was cool to be "against the war", while those who supported America's involvement in Vietnam were seen, or portrayed to be unhip, or aged, certainly above the age of thirty.

South African Border War

main article: South African resistance to war

Opposition to South Africa's border war spread to a general resistance to the apartheid military. Organisations such as the End Conscription Campaign and Committee on South African War Resisters, were set up.

2001 Afghanistan War

Further information: Opposition to the 2001 Afghanistan War

Opposition to the 2001 Afghanistan War consisted of Afghani women and tens to a hundred thousand protestors in the United States and the United Kingdom. Opposition was organised locally by Afghan women and internationally in the form of protests by various anti-war organisations who would go on to organise much larger protests against the 2003 Iraq War.

The Iraq War

Further information: Opposition to the Iraq War

Anti-war rally in Washington, D.C., March 15, 2003.

Protestor outside the White House.

The anti-war position gained renewed support and attention in the build up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the U.S. and its allies. Millions of people staged mass protests across the world in the immediate prelude to the invasion, and demonstrations and other forms of anti-war activism have continued throughout the occupation. The primary opposition within the U.S. to the continued occupation of Iraq has come from the grassroots. Opposition to the conflict, how it had been fought, and complications during the aftermath period divided public sentiment in the U.S., resulting in majority public opinion turning against the war for the first time in the spring of 2004. Majority opinion in the most of the world has remained generally anti-war throughout.

The Political Cooperative [1] is an anti-war think tank and political organization that was created in 2006, in response to the Bush Administration's "war on terror".

Perceived Risk of Iran War

Further information: Opposition to war against Iran

Opposition to a perceived risk of a military attack on Iran by the United States (US) is known to have started during 2005-2006. Claims that a risk of military attack existed were made by people such as Seymour Hersh, Scott Ritter, Joseph Cirincione and Jorge E. Hirsch. Majority public opinion in the US in late 2006 was reported to be opposed to an attack. Several individuals, including former US military intelligence officer and then United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq, Scott Ritter, made many public speeches and published articles opposing a would-be attack on Iran. Grassroots organisations, including Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran in the US and the United Kingdom (UK) and Don't Attack Iran Coalition in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as national governments, including the Non-Aligned Movement of 118 states, declared their opposition to an attack on Iran. Mass street protests around the world and especially in the UK and cyberspace actions were carried out in opposition to the would-be attack.

See also

• Anti-militarism
• Nuclear-free zone

External links

• The Pro-War Personality, citing anti-war statements by notable people.