Do all paths lead to Moscow? The NATO dual-track decision and the peace movement – a critique

Abstract

This article presents elements of a novel approach to the study of social movements in a Cold War context. Using peace activism in West Germany during the 1980s as a case study, this article argues for a conceptualisation of social movement activism that moves beyond the ideological divides of the Cold War and a functional understanding of politics. Instead, this article highlights the multi-layered, fractured and contested nature of activism and shows how peace activists engaged in debates about the meanings of 'peace', 'security', and 'democracy' rather than merely representing 'Communist' interests.