Unofficial Peace Activities in Eastern Europe

Abstract

The subject of this chapter goes beyond the main theme of the book. It is not primarily concerned with Communist attempts to manipulate opinion and policies in the West, through international front organisations and peace campaigns; nor does it deal directly with the aims and activities of the indigenous peace movements in Western countries. It is included for three reasons. The first is that it illustrates the sharp contract between the situation in the West and that in the East. In Western countries the peace movements are movements of protest. Their purpose is to campaign against existing defence policies (or their interpretation of those policies) and what they see as being the consequences of decisions taken under them. They claim to champion ‘peace’ with the implication that those who disagree with them are working against peace, even when not positively in favour of war. This often brings them into sharp confrontation with Western governments. But they are free to promote their views, however unpalatable these may be to their governments.