OnLine Bibliotek for Fred
Hop til
> Hjemmesider for Fred
> Oversigten
Go to > Websites for Peace
> Download Peace in Print
Where is the history of the peace movements?
by Holger Terp
Unfortunately, it seems at first view at the library shelves and in the library
catalogues, that there has not been much writing about the history of the
international peace movements. In particular this is true if one compares the
number of publications about the peace movements and the history of the people
connected to it compared to the number of volumes about international politics
or armaments, weapons or military matters.
Why is it important?
Why is it important to study the history of the international peace movements?
First, because the peace movements represent an alternative to the wisdom of the
establishment.
Their policies are to end wars and armament by peaceful means and create
peaceful alternatives in a world ridden with conflicts. Secondly, the peace
movements have somewhat failed to reach their goals even though the good news
of successes can be found. Like the peaceful separation of Norway and Sweden in
1905. More recently, the successful campaign of INFACT International against General Electric, which caused the company to cancel all activities in nuclear
weapons.
Recycling of ideas
Wars and armaments continue still since the beginning of the peace movements. Therefore the lessons of history are important, if not to the politicans the
more to their subjects, in helping us to understand the successes and failures
of the peace movements.
By using the experience of the past one make sure that the former generations
of peace workers not are forgotten and thus did not work vainly. By learning of
successful actions, recycling of ideas and actions becomes possible. Learning
about peace work in different countries can also help the growth of, and the
need for, more international understanding and co-operation. That is: We in
the different peace groups are not working alone, even though it sometimes
seems like it.
Peace in Print
The apparently small numbers of publications on the history of the peace
movement are classified under many different headlines: peace movements, social
movements, non-violent movements, conscientious objectors, etc. These make
searches for the relevant information rather difficult for those who
unfortunately not are educated information mediators, computer freaks,
historians or academicians.
The records on the history of the
international peace movements will establish that there are quite a few books
on organised peace work. Peace work is not limited to a single movement, a
single country nor groups of countries, nor even that their activities are
limited i time.
The recordings of books about the history of the peace
movements and the persons who are, were active in it, forms the basis of this
volume. However, the work is not complete, but rather illustrates the broadness
of the many subjects concerning the different peace groups.
Download Peace in Print
A bibliography about the history of the peace movements, written in
WordPerfect 5.1 by Holger Terp (1.030.392 bytes).
Go to Websites for Peace.