Peace Activism

Peace Activism before World War II

Although pacifist ideals and peace activism existed throughout much of history, the widespread development of peace activism began in the 19th century, most notably in Europe and the United States. Groups dedicated to peace activism arose out of the rationalism of the Enlightenment, scientific developments, industrialization, and the belief in the progress of civilization as well as the growth of international relations, trade, and commerce. The growth of the middle class and its reform and associational activism also spurred 19th-century peace activism. Early peace activists’ goals included disarmament, an end to all war and militarization, the use of arbitration to settle disputes between nations, and the establishment of international confederations. Many activists believed that their goal of the elimination of warfare would be achieved through the progress of civilization.

Early peace activism reached the height of its strength prior to the world wars. The rise of nationalism and the buildup of armaments in the late 19th century gave further impetus to peace activism, demonstrating its importance as a global issue. Peace societies flourished in 19th-century Europe and the United States along with the rise of other national and international NGOs. Many 19th-century peace societies had a religious basis, while others were philanthropic in nature. Examples of early peace societies included the Association for Peace through Law (ADP), the International Peace Society (originally the Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace), the French Parliamentary Group for International Arbitration, and the Société Francaise pour L'arbitrage entre Nations. Peace activists began to work on an international level by the end of the 19th century, leading to the 1892 establishment of the International Peace Bureau in Bern, Switzerland.

World War I demonstrated that many middle-class peace activists were willing to support national defensive war efforts. Many national governments involved in international conflicts have used arguments of defensive or “just war” to counter peace activism movements. Peace activists have also been concerned with establishing rules of warfare to limit its barbarity, such as the treatment of noncombatants such as civilian populations, medical personnel, and aid workers as well as the wounded and prisoners of war (POWs). The Geneva conventions and related protocols governing international humanitarian law are the most well known of these international rules.

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