Pacifism in the Twentieth Century

Pacifism in the Twentieth Century. By Peter Brock and Nigel Young. Toronto: U. of Toronto Press. 1999. Pp. 436. $29.95 Pacifism Since 1914: An Annotated Reading List. Compiled by Peter Brock. Toronto: U. of Toronto Press. 2000. Pp. 119. [Obtainable for $15 (shipping included) from: Peter Brock, Department of History, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A1, Canada] Historian Peter Brock has revised his study of Pacifism in the Twentieth Century, first published in 1968, with the assistance of sociologist Nigel Young. The updated version builds on the strengths of the original but is not the global appraisal of war resistance and nonviolence implied by the title. Emphasizing developments in the U.S. and Britain, the volume provides a useful synthesis of developments in the historic peace churches, other religious groups and the primary pacifist organizations around the world. The nature and method of international conscientious objection receive an in-depth appraisal. An eclectic collection of photos and drawings reinforces the power of the text. Brock and Young's work is strongest in its analysis of pacifist responses to the World Wars. Despite important additions, the book is less comprehensive in dealing with the use of nonviolence in the second half of the century. Brock and Young devote considerable attention to the Anabaptist peace witness receives. Reliant on secondary sources, they recount the familiar analyses of the theological transition from nonresistance to active peacemaking developed by Mennonite scholars. Consistent with their emphasis on intellectual and theological history, the authors give broad treatment to the thinking behind the evolution of Mennonite engagement with issues of war and peace. Among the peace churches, Mennonites are mentioned positively for having negotiated the pitfalls of theological modernization more successfully than the Brethren or the Friends. The intellectual contributions of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. to the evolution of pacifist ideas and action are also given substantial consideration. However, Brock and Young generally underemphasize nonviolent activism applied in situations not primarily connected to the cycle of conscription and conscientious objection. Thus, while King's contribution to the civil rights struggle is highlighted, A. Philip Randolph's earlier use of Gandhian tactics to gain civil rights for blacks is never mentioned. Randolph's ingenious leadership of the March on Washington Movement prompted F.D.R. to initiate the Fair Employment Practices Commission, even though the march never took place! Randolph later worked with King to realize the 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom. It is unfortunate that once again Randolph's efforts to help Americans adapt of Gandhi's model for social change is left out of the story of nonviolence. …

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