The Antinuclear Peace Movement: Toward an Evaluation of Effectiveness *

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of the peace movement as a whole, this paper seeks to identify the criteria that the various constituents of the movement active on the local, regional and global levels apply to measure effectiveness. It does so by analyzing the character of a few selected components of the movement, giving reasons for each selection. The character is discerned through an examination of its ideology, if any; its organizational structure (i.e. whether it is stable-centralized-hierarchical or episodic-decentralized-nonhierarchical); its goal (i.e. whether it is system-reformation or system-transformation); its method (i.e. whether it is oriented to acquiring legitimacy, or empowerment, to raising consciousness, to building alliances, or to mobilization); and its conception of peace (i.e. whether it is negative peace-as-absence-of-war or positive peace-as-justice). The author then draws all the threads together to reflect on the movement. She sees certain weaknesses which must be removed before its agitation for peace can begin to appear credible.