Rose M. Somerville

The Peace Revolution: Ethos and Social Process Rose M. Somerville First edition

At times during the recent past people have wondered whether the peace movement was over. If the peace movement actually came to an end under present conditions, it would not be long before the human race would come to an end, because the "normal" course of operation of present social institutions and the prevalent habits of thought and action would inevitably lead to increasingly destructive wars. It is obvious that the war game is still central in policy-planning, though it is morally on the defensive as never before in human history, and requires more public hypocrisy than ever before on the part of those who plan it, those who carry it out, and those who profit by it. The war problem will grow, and the peace movement will grow with it, not only because of Indochina, or the Middle East, or any other particular theatre of war, and no matter who is President of the United States, or sits at the top in other countries. The only thing than can be decisive is that which needs to be done by people, even if their governments have good intentions. A revolution in ways of thinking and habits of acting must take place both among leaders and the general public if the all-too-final war to end all wars is to be avoided. To define that revolution and to understand its process of growth is the purpose of this book. [From the Preface]