Antiwar and Peace Movements

Abstract

Antiwar and peace movements are social movements that concentrate on issues related to war, armed conflict, and violence. The primary focus is usually a demand for an end to a specific conflict, the abolition of war, and the adoption of nonviolent techniques to solve conflict. Strategies for change have included violent acts such as assassination, self‐immolation, and the destruction of property. The vast majority of people participating in these movements utilize nonviolent tactics. Motivations for resisting war and promoting peace vary; they include concerns over the ideological reasons behind war, the immorality of killing people, violations of human rights, the destruction of lives, the environment, and opposition to continued occupation. Success varies, protests against the Vietnam War (1960s–1970s) in the United States did have an impact on de‐escalating and ending the war. Mass demonstrations in 2010 created significant changes in national governments in the Middle East and northern Africa. In the United States, the Women's March (2017) and March for Our Lives (2018) involved thousands of people around the world standing against violence and oppression. Some results from these marches are increased awareness and accountability for violence against women and people of color as well as new laws restricting access to guns.