Civilian Defence as a Complement

Abstract

Bergfeldt, L. Civilian Defence as a Complement, Cooperation and Conflict, XX, 1985, 279-296.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, civilian defence was much discussed as an alternative form of defence. In the last ten years, the idea has gradually lost momentum among peace activists and researchers. However, it has been taken up and partly accepted by authorities in a few European states, at least for further exploration as a possible complementary form of resistance.

In this article, which argues that there is an actual need for a practical policy of civilian defence, the concept is briefly reviewed and the relevant literature analysed in a concise manner. After that, the arguments for and against the idea of civilian defence as a complement to the existing, militarily dominated, forms of defence are presented. Two 'actually existing' models of a combination are also briefly discussed on the basis of some theoretically possible combinations.

A rapprochement may be on its way between the opposite standpoints 'civilian defence — a full-blown alternative' and 'civilian defence — a perhaps beautiful, but totally useless thought'. The synthesis would, then, be a wider acceptance of the idea of a complement: a future co-existence between military and civilian forms of defence and resistance. Such a development may be the proper way to give new impetus to the idea of civilian defence — e.g. through renewed and intensified research and practical development — and it may even prove to be a step in the direction of improved and more secure policies of defence.