antimilitarisme

Antimilitarisme is a political and social philosophy that critiques the role of the military as an institution and opposes militarism—the idea that military power and war are legitimate instruments of national policy. Proponents argue that resources spent on defense should be redirected toward social welfare, education, healthcare, and development; they advocate demilitarization, civilian democratic control of security policy, and, in some cases, the abolition or significant reduction of conscription. Unlike some forms of pacifism, which condemn war on moral grounds, antimilitarism emphasizes the social, economic, and political power of the military, its influence on culture and foreign policy, and aims to reform or dismantle the systems that sustain armed forces.

Historically, antimilitarist ideas emerged within socialist, anarchist, and anti-imperialist movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the interwar period, various leagues and activists promoted disarmament and demilitarization as part of broader peace campaigns. During the Cold War, antimilitarist arguments often intersected with anti-nuclear activism and critiques of militarized foreign policy. In later decades, feminist, anti-colonial, and labor movements have linked antimilitarism to critiques of gender domination, imperial rule, and the militarization of work and society. Contemporary antimilitarism frequently emphasizes arms control, civilian investment in public goods, and nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution and security.

Critics contend that some military capacity is necessary for deterrence and protection, and worry that strong antimilitarist positions may undermine national defense or international stability. In practice, antimilitarisme is closely related to pacifism and disarmament, but it frames defense policy as a systemic issue tied to power structures, economics, and imperialism rather than as a purely moral question.