What has the peace movement accomplished?
And where do we go from here? Reflection on these two questions is vital, not because it will magically give the movement a bold new direction or clear up all confusion among supporters about where peace activism now stands. Rather, only by standing back can we crystallize the strains of thinking that are circulating between different activists, and spark further discussion about strategies for going forward. Therefore, this paper will consider each of the questions in turn, with the goals of providing an overview of what has happened so far and of evaluating current ideas about movement strategy. I. What Has the Peace Movement Accomplished? Last year, the Bush Administration’s push for war with Iraq faced a huge wave of international dissent. This outcry culminated in the coordinated worldwide demonstrations of 15 February, 2003. The mobilization was especially noteworthy because it drew out massive crowds before an invasion of Iraq had even started. In the U.S., the largest protests
