Pacifism as Pathology: Notes on an American Pseudopraxis
Encyclopedia
Pacifism as Pathology: Notes on an American Pseudopraxis is an essay
written in 1986 by Ward Churchill
. It examines the role of pacifist
politics
within United States
leftism. The essay takes a critical stance of pacifist doctrine, labelling it as ineffective, hypocritical and unconsciously racist
.
In 1998 Arbeiter Ring Publishing
published the essay in a book entitled Pacifism as Pathology: Reflections on the Role of Armed Struggle in North America and listing Churchill as the author. (ISBN 1-894037-07-3) The book included a preface by Ed Mead, a new introduction by Churchill "'Pacifism as Pathology' Revisited: Excavating a Debate" and a commentary by Mike Ryan "On Ward Churchill's 'Pacifism as Pathology': Toward a Revolutionary Practice."
In 2001 George Lakey, a co-founder of the pacifist Movement for a New Society
, published a detailed response to Pacifism as Pathology entitled "Nonviolent Action as the Sword that Heals: Challenging Ward Churchill's 'Pacifism As Pathology'." The book emphasized that many former advocates of violent tactics had abandoned them because they found nonviolent resistance
more effective.
In a Z Magazine
column Churchill replies to criticism from a number of parties, assailing "the outright lie that I have actively sought to incite 'violent revolution.' I have done no such thing. To the contrary, what I have consistently advocated over the years is the rule of law." He also states: “I would vastly prefer that this happen through nonviolent means. However, I cannot say that nonviolence is the only legitimate response to systemic violence.”
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
written in 1986 by Ward Churchill
Ward Churchill
Ward LeRoy Churchill is an author and political activist. He was a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1990 to 2007. The primary focus of his work is on the historical treatment of political dissenters and Native Americans by the United States government...
. It examines the role of pacifist
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
within United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
leftism. The essay takes a critical stance of pacifist doctrine, labelling it as ineffective, hypocritical and unconsciously racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
.
In 1998 Arbeiter Ring Publishing
Arbeiter Ring Publishing
Arbeiter Ring Publishing is a worker-owned and operated independent book publisher and distributor that specializes in progressive, radical and anarchist literature . Founded by Todd Scarth and John K...
published the essay in a book entitled Pacifism as Pathology: Reflections on the Role of Armed Struggle in North America and listing Churchill as the author. (ISBN 1-894037-07-3) The book included a preface by Ed Mead, a new introduction by Churchill "'Pacifism as Pathology' Revisited: Excavating a Debate" and a commentary by Mike Ryan "On Ward Churchill's 'Pacifism as Pathology': Toward a Revolutionary Practice."
In 2001 George Lakey, a co-founder of the pacifist Movement for a New Society
Movement for a New Society
The Movement for a New Society was a U.S.-based network of social activists, committed to the principles of nonviolence, who played a key role in social movements of the 1970s and 80s....
, published a detailed response to Pacifism as Pathology entitled "Nonviolent Action as the Sword that Heals: Challenging Ward Churchill's 'Pacifism As Pathology'." The book emphasized that many former advocates of violent tactics had abandoned them because they found nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance is the practice of achieving goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence. It is largely synonymous with civil resistance...
more effective.
In a Z Magazine
Z Communications
Z Communications is a radical left-wing media group founded in 1986 by Michael Albert and Lydia Sargent. It advocates participatory socialism as a replacement for capitalism. Its publications include Z Magazine, ZNet, Z Media, and Z Video.Z Communications is based outside Woods Hole, Massachusetts...
column Churchill replies to criticism from a number of parties, assailing "the outright lie that I have actively sought to incite 'violent revolution.' I have done no such thing. To the contrary, what I have consistently advocated over the years is the rule of law." He also states: “I would vastly prefer that this happen through nonviolent means. However, I cannot say that nonviolence is the only legitimate response to systemic violence.”
See also
- Issues in anarchism: Ends and means
- Peter GelderloosPeter GelderloosPeter Gelderloos is an American anarchist author known for his 2005 book, How Nonviolence Protects the State.Gelderloos was arrested in 2001 while attending a protest at the Georgia-based Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation , a controversial school that trains Central and South...
, author of book How Nonviolence Protects the State - NonviolenceNonviolenceNonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...