Pacifism: the domestic dimension

Andrew Alexandra (The University of Melbourne)

Abstract: National defence is rationalised as a means to protect the political and social life of a state from outside usurpation. Discussions of the relative merits of pacifist and military policies of national defence have generally focused on their effectiveness in deterring and resisting such external threats. A full assessment of these policies, however, also needs to evaluate their effects on, and consistency with, the domestic arrangements and values which they are supposed to help protect. This paper begins such an evaluation.