Introduction Opposition to World War I included socialist, anarchist, syndicalist, and Marxist groups on the left, as well as Christian pacifists, Canadian and Irish nationalists, women’s groups, intellectuals, and rural folk. The socialist movements had declared before the war their opposition to a war which they said could only mean workers killing each other in… Read More
Introduction The Military Service Act, 1917 was an Act of the Parliament of Canada which introduced conscription in the midst of the First World War. It was passed due to a shortage of volunteers and was an effort to recruit more soldiers. Background Following the outbreak of the First World War, the Canadian Expeditionary Force… Read More
Introduction The War Precautions Act 1914 was an Act of the Parliament of Australia which gave the Government of Australia special powers for the duration of World War I and for six months afterwards. It was held by the High Court of Australia in Farey v Burvett that during wartime, the scope of the federal… Read More
Introduction The Manifesto of the Sixteen (French: Manifeste des seize), or Proclamation of the Sixteen, was a document drafted in 1916 by eminent anarchists Peter Kropotkin and Jean Grave which advocated an Allied victory over Germany and the Central Powers during the First World War. At the outbreak of the war, Kropotkin and other anarchist… Read More
Introduction Internationalist and defencist were the broad opposing camps in the international socialist movement during and shortly after the First World War. Prior to 1914, anti-militarism had been an article of faith among most European socialist parties. Leaders of the Second International had even suggested that socialist workers might foil a declaration of war by… Read More
Introduction Defencivism is a philosophical standpoint related in spirit to the non-aggression principle. It is a halfway point between other combat or violence based philosophies, such as just war and pacifism. Refer to Antimilitarism. Concept Defencivism has a standpoint that only defensive actions are moral. One may move to aid someone in immediate danger or… Read More
Introduction Pacificism is the general term for ethical opposition to violence or war unless force is deemed necessary. Contrast with Antimilitarism. Together with pacifism, it is born from the Western tradition or attitude that calls for peace. The former involves the unconditional refusal to support violence or absolute pacifism, but pacificism views the prevention of… Read More
Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute 