Protest without illusions

This critique of the early peace movement has crucial lessons for today's eco-activists and single-issue campaigners. The author took part in many of the first wave of protests against nuclear (and chemical and biological) weapons, organised by CND and other movements in the 1950s and '60s, and wrote about them in the anarchist paper, Freedom. Unlike many of those involved however, rather than isolate the anti-nuclear protests from the political, social and economic struggles of the period, Richards situated them within their wider socio-political context. This book reassembles some of his essays and articles about the people, the movements and the events they inspired. Titles such as Peace by Legislation or Direct Action?, Leaders and Lunatics, Reflections on Capitalism and War, What is CND For?, and War or Civil Disobedience? combine with attacks on politicians of all shades. Also included are articles on the Spies For Peace, the Committee of 100, plus many of Richards' high quality photographs recalling the atmosphere of the time. It would of course be easy, he says, to criticise the peace movement with the benefit of 20 or more years of hindsight. Where the views in Protest Without Illusions differ is in commenting on it at the in attempting as the events unfolded to draw conclusions and learn lessons from them for future strategies.