Responding to the unprecedented violence of our times, and the corresponding interest in nonviolent solutions, this book takes up the heart of pacifism: its critique of what pacifists have termed the war system.
Pacifism as War Abolitionism provides an account of the war system that draws on contemporary sociology, history, and political philosophy. The core of its critique of that system is that war begets war, and hence war will not be ended—or even constrained—by finding more principled ways to fight war, as many imagine. War can only be ended by ending the war system, which can only be done nonviolently. This has been the message of pacifism's great voices like Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dorothy Day. It is the principal message of this book.
Key Features
- Draws extensively on the sociological and historical research on war to expand the usual philosophical discussion beyond hypothetical accounts
- Expands the dialogues on the ethics of war beyond just war theory to its principal alternative: pacifism
- Engages discussion of empire and imperialism in relation to the logic and development of the war system
- Presents pacifism’s response to the reality of war today, including the idea of "never-ending war"
Preface
- Grand Illusions
- Pacifism as Tradition
- Personal and Political Pacifism
- The Dynamic of the War System
- Disarming Power: Memory, Sacrifice, Grief, and Hope
Biography
Cheyney Ryan is a senior research fellow at Oxford University’s Institute for Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict, where he focuses on nonviolence, pacifism, and the critique of just war theory. He has been named one of the leading scholars in peace and conflict studies by the Washington Post and received the Joseph J. Blau Prize from the Society for Advancement of American Philosophy for significant contributions to the history of American philosophy. He is co-chair of the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights, and has received wide recognition for his work on social justice, including an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Quinnipiac University for his “steadfast commitment to peace on our planet.”
"Like no other philosopher in recent times, Cheyney Ryan has developed the pacifist tradition in our age of forever wars. In this arresting rearticulation of his views, Ryan buttresses the moral case against war with a historical and sociological account of why it continues and what would have to change for it to end. There is no more important and necessary book on the subject." —Samuel Moyn, Yale University, author of “Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War”
“War is the most egregious manifestation of the evil of which we human beings are capable. We have no claim to be civilized or ‘advanced’ as long as we continue to slaughter one another in war. That we must progress beyond war is the thesis of this book. Ryan’s pacifism is neither naïvely utopian nor grounded in religious dogma. It is based on an analysis of politics that is both realistic and deeply informed by his vast knowledge of history, including military history. There is deep wisdom in this book from which we all have much to learn.” – Jeff McMahan, University of Oxford, author of “Killing in War”
“Pacifism as War Abolitionism presents an urgent case, amplified by current events. Abolitionism is a powerful and resonant concept. It turns pacifism from a passive idea into an active strategy. As the book shows, it is the war system that is the perpetrator, replicating itself repeatedly into perpetual war. This is not a controversial claim – the empirical record is stunning. Every indication is that things will continue if not worsen. If the trenches in Ukraine and Gaza are not enough, the next frontiers are already in sight as the militarization of outer space and cyber space are creating new battlefields for mortal combat. We are overdue for a course correction, and this book provides new direction inspired by a long tradition of enlightened and informed thinkers. I hope it be widely read.” – Joel Rosenthal, President, Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs
"At last, a major new book that makes the case for pacifism. Cheyney Ryan's rich distillation of history, philosophy and personal activism will educate and inspire a new generation of war abolitionists." --Hugo Slim, Las Casas Institute for Social Justice, University of Oxford, author of “Killing Civilians: Method, Madness, and Morality in War”
“In an age of perpetual conflict, Cheyney Ryan delivers a courageous and deeply reasoned account of how war can be abolished. Pacifism as War Abolitionism, in contrast to the Just War tradition, focuses on non-violent means for ending the war system that enables endless war. The book presents a compelling, urgent call to action for policymakers and citizens alike.” – Brianna Rosen, University of Oxford, Senior Fellow at Just Security
