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A Winter of Discontent: The Nuclear Freeze and American Politics
The nuclear freeze movement grew more quickly than even the most optimistic activists thought possible, as large numbers of Americans became convinced that there was something wrong with United States defense policy and that they could do something about it. This analysis provides the first comprehensive history of the nuclear freeze movement, approaching it from three distinct perspectives. Changes in the politics and policy of nuclear weapons created an opportunity for a dissident movement. Intermediating forces in American politics influenced the situation. The efforts of activists and organizations to build a protest movement and their interaction with American political institutions provide the third perspective. A Winter of Discontent addresses both the broad spectrum of movement activity and the political context surrounding it.
The text explores the challenge of the nuclear freeze movement to the content of United States national security policy and the policy making process. By analyzing the freeze, a theoretical framework for understanding the origins, development and potential political influence of other protest movements in the United States can be developed. The book also strives to integrate analysis of peace movements into an understanding of the policy context in which they emerge. This volume is essential for courses in social movements, strategic policy, American politics and political sociology. Antinuclear freeze activists and students of peace studies will also find this work invaluable.
The text explores the challenge of the nuclear freeze movement to the content of United States national security policy and the policy making process. By analyzing the freeze, a theoretical framework for understanding the origins, development and potential political influence of other protest movements in the United States can be developed. The book also strives to integrate analysis of peace movements into an understanding of the policy context in which they emerge. This volume is essential for courses in social movements, strategic policy, American politics and political sociology. Antinuclear freeze activists and students of peace studies will also find this work invaluable.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 1990
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July 14, 2024
A MARVELOUS HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF THE NUCLEAR FREEZE MOVEMENT
David S. Meyer is also the author of books such as 'The Politics of Protest: Social Movements in America,' 'The Social Movement Society, Routing the Opposition: Social Movements, Public Policy, and Democracy,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1990 book, "I began this book with three goals. First, I wanted to tell the story of the nuclear freeze and chronicle its meteoric life... Second, by analyzing the freeze I mean to contribute to developing a theoretical framework for understanding other protest movements in the United States... Finally, I want to integrate analysis of peace movements into an understanding of the policy context in which they emerge."
He suggests that the increase of "bellicose rhetoric and aggressive military posture" under the Reagan administration "simply accentuated Carter's shift in emphasis." (Pg. 38) The Reagan administration's departure from previous U.S. strategic policy "was not nearly as striking as its new and distinctive rhetoric." (Pg. 71) But ironically, "Reagan administration rhetoric became the most powerful recruiting device for the nuclear freeze." (Pg. 74) Unfortunately, despite the consistent support of the American public for the nuclear freeze (between 71%-83%), "mass opinion on these issues has little if any influence on policy." (Pg. 88)
He covers scientists who "have been among the most active and credible spokespeople" (Pg. 97), as well as Hollywood figures (pg. 101-102); Helen Caldicott and Physicians for Social Responsibility (pg. 102, 175-176); religious groups, including Billy Graham and the U.S. Catholic Bishops (pg. 105); Jonathan Schell (whose book The Fate of the Earth / Jonathan Schell was very influential; pg. 131); the Berrigan brothers and the Plowshares movement (pg. 198); and the blockbuster made-for-TV movie, The Day After (pg. 132).
He argues that the reason for the appeal of the freeze to the public was "immediately obvious. Unlike virtually all other arms control proposals, it was strikingly simple, intelligible to the general public as well as to arms control experts... it promised an end to the arms race, rather than a continued and difficult struggle to manage ongoing international competition." (Pg. 159)
He traces the decline in the freeze movement as being "partly as a result of elections and partly as a result of the deployment of the Pershing II and cruise missiles," as well as "conflict in Central America, the Middle East, and South Africa... drawing movement resources and supporters to other causes." But "Perhaps most significantly, the ostensibly neglected concerns that provoked the freeze movement were no longer so blatantly neglected." (Pg. 269-270) And in fact, "The freeze movement forced an extremely popular president to return to long-established bipartisan policies he had consistently eschewed and had vigorously criticized." (Pg. 272)
This book is a wonderful, detailed, and insightful movement of this now almost-forgotten social movement.
David S. Meyer is also the author of books such as 'The Politics of Protest: Social Movements in America,' 'The Social Movement Society, Routing the Opposition: Social Movements, Public Policy, and Democracy,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1990 book, "I began this book with three goals. First, I wanted to tell the story of the nuclear freeze and chronicle its meteoric life... Second, by analyzing the freeze I mean to contribute to developing a theoretical framework for understanding other protest movements in the United States... Finally, I want to integrate analysis of peace movements into an understanding of the policy context in which they emerge."
He suggests that the increase of "bellicose rhetoric and aggressive military posture" under the Reagan administration "simply accentuated Carter's shift in emphasis." (Pg. 38) The Reagan administration's departure from previous U.S. strategic policy "was not nearly as striking as its new and distinctive rhetoric." (Pg. 71) But ironically, "Reagan administration rhetoric became the most powerful recruiting device for the nuclear freeze." (Pg. 74) Unfortunately, despite the consistent support of the American public for the nuclear freeze (between 71%-83%), "mass opinion on these issues has little if any influence on policy." (Pg. 88)
He covers scientists who "have been among the most active and credible spokespeople" (Pg. 97), as well as Hollywood figures (pg. 101-102); Helen Caldicott and Physicians for Social Responsibility (pg. 102, 175-176); religious groups, including Billy Graham and the U.S. Catholic Bishops (pg. 105); Jonathan Schell (whose book The Fate of the Earth / Jonathan Schell was very influential; pg. 131); the Berrigan brothers and the Plowshares movement (pg. 198); and the blockbuster made-for-TV movie, The Day After (pg. 132).
He argues that the reason for the appeal of the freeze to the public was "immediately obvious. Unlike virtually all other arms control proposals, it was strikingly simple, intelligible to the general public as well as to arms control experts... it promised an end to the arms race, rather than a continued and difficult struggle to manage ongoing international competition." (Pg. 159)
He traces the decline in the freeze movement as being "partly as a result of elections and partly as a result of the deployment of the Pershing II and cruise missiles," as well as "conflict in Central America, the Middle East, and South Africa... drawing movement resources and supporters to other causes." But "Perhaps most significantly, the ostensibly neglected concerns that provoked the freeze movement were no longer so blatantly neglected." (Pg. 269-270) And in fact, "The freeze movement forced an extremely popular president to return to long-established bipartisan policies he had consistently eschewed and had vigorously criticized." (Pg. 272)
This book is a wonderful, detailed, and insightful movement of this now almost-forgotten social movement.
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