by Brian Martin
The idea of military defence - namely of abolishing military forces and relying in their stead on nonviolent struggles by the general population - is extremely radical. Yet seldom before have the many radical implications of social defence been outlined.
Social Defence, Social Change argues for social defence as a grassroots initiative linked to challenges to oppressive structures in society such as patriarchy, police and the state. Filled with examples from Finland to Fiji, the book also provides a provocative survey of radical alternatives in politics and economics.
Social defence is not just a defence option. It is a direction for action that should be known to all those who seek a society without oppression, inequality or violence.
3 Elite reform or grassroots initiative? 27
4 Steven Huxley and "nonviolent" struggle 38
5 Lessons from the Fiji coups 50
6 Nonviolence against hypocrisy in the Gulf 66
7 Revolutionary social defence 69
10 Social defence and the environment 96
11 Science and technology for nonviolent struggle 106
12 Telecommunications for nonviolent struggle 111
13 Towards a resilient political system 120
14 Towards a resilient economic system 132
15 Postscript: Power tends to corrupt, even social defence 141
Further reading 145
Index 148
Go toBrian Martin's publications on peace, war and nonviolence