P

Pacifism

Pacifism is not a particular political doctrine, but the general belief that all war
is morally unacceptable, and that there are no adequate justifications for using
violence or physical force in pursuit of any end, political or otherwise.
Although such beliefs obviously have existed throughout history, it is probable
that only in the current and two previous centuries have they been at all
widespread, organized, or come to be associated particularly with certain
political positions. In part the reasons for this are historically accidental,
because warfare for most of the post-medieval period, until especially the
world wars, was largely confined to small and professional military forces.
Conscription, practised extensively in continental European armies in the 19th
century, and by all important nations during one or both of the world wars,
made it hard for those with pacifist beliefs to avoid military service. Hence it
became both necessary and possible for the collective exposition of the
doctrine to develop.
Various other factors have been influential, for example the abandonment by
Christian Churches, for example, of theological arguments that made the
notion of ajust wareasy to promulgate, and the sheer horror of the First
World War which persuaded many who experienced it afterwards to support
the various peace movements that were formed. An important political reason
for the wider spreading of pacifism was the analysis of the causes of war
suggested by much anarchist and left-wing thought, and especially byMarx-
ism. From this political position wars between nations are entirely prompted
by the selfish economic aspirations of the ruling capitalist e ́lites, but the only
people to suffer in them are the exploited proletariats of both sides. Thus
international communism, with the notion of fraternal bonding between
workers of all countries, produces both the idea that the proletariat should
unite against warmongering capitalists and an atmosphere conducive to pacif-
ism.
The increasingly liberal politics of Western democratic nations, with an
emphasis oncivil liberties, has provided a context in which a genuine pacifist
claim cannot be ignored. So, for example, the conscription laws in Germany