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NOTE:  This page was created in early April to promote union-wide debate on a resolution on "war and militarism" to be considered at the May 30, 2002 monthly meeting the of the PSC Delegate Assembly.  That union-wide debate (in part using materials provided below) was held during the months of April and May at the chapter level, on this Website and in the pages of the Clarion.  On May 30th the Delegate Assembly passed a resolution which you can read by clicking HERE.

Discussion and Debate - 

War and Militarism: What position should the PSC take?

| suggested discussion questions |
| suggested links and materials | 

A resolution was passed at the March Delegate Assembly meeting that resolved that "during the next two months the PSC conduct an education and discussion process on the issue [of current US policy on military engagement and nuclear policy], both at the chapter level and University-wide, in preparation for formulating union policy" An ad-hoc committee of the D.A. was formed to assist making discussion of the resolution as rich and democratic as possible. To begin with, we urge chapters to devote part of their upcoming chapter meetings to discussing our possible position, or to arrange new meetings devoted to the issue. We hope that the process will maximize member input, allowing the Delegate Assembly to take an informed position.

In conjunction with the International Committee, we developed and distributed a provisional discussion package to the chapter chairs on April 18, which included

• general discussion questions
• more in-depth questions from the International and Women’s Committees
• suggested reading materials (see below),
• a model flyer for the event (printable Word document).

The links below include the articles distributed to chapter chairs at the 4/18 meeting, as well as additional links to more opinion and analysis pieces. The International Committee submitted a "Preamble to Theories of War," that introduces some of the approaches taken to understand the current situation. The ad-hoc D.A. committee decided not to try to reproduce the thousands of positions that individuals and groups have taken on the war, nor does the selection below attempt to mirror the apparent pro-war balance of popular opinion. Instead, we decided to gather viewpoints that are not as widely distributed as those we come across in most news sources or mainstream commentary. Members might want to compare the various analyses and opinions expressed in these readings with those we read or see in the New York Times, the Daily News, the Wall Street Journal, on CNN or network news.

All of these readings represent the beginnings of a discussion: we hope that the links will grow. To that end, if there are particularly useful or insightful articles that any members believe should be posted, please contact our webmaster [webmaster@psc-cuny.org] with the address. We will make every effort to post suggestions.

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THE PSC HAS NOT ENDORSED ANY OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN ANY OF THE WRITINGS PRESENTED BELOW. ALL ARTICLES AND ESSAYS ARE PRESENTED FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES.

Suggested links and reading materials:

• American Federation of Teachers Resolution, October 16, 2002
• United Teachers of Los Angeles Special Order #53, January 30, 2002
• Richard Falk, "Defining A Just War," The Nation, October 29, 2001
• Stephen Shalom, "Confronting War and Terrorism," New Politics, vol. 8, no. 4 whole no. 32, Winter 2002.
• Walden Bello, "The American Way of War", Znet
• Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan statement on International Women's Day, March 8, 2002
• Social Science Research Council: large selection of articles by social scientists responding to post-September 11 geo-politics.
• AFL-CIO Resolution, "Preserving American Values in a Time of Crisis, " December 2001 Convention
• Amity Schlaes, War Against Terrorism Will Rise from the Ashes, Financial Times, September 12, 2001
• George Monbiot, "America's Imperial War:The Liberals Who Backed the Afghan Bombing are Now Lined up with Rampant US Militarism," The Guardian (London), February 12, 2002 
• The Tricky Art of Defining Terrorism, Christian Science Monitor, March 7, 2002

Add to these links: If there are particularly useful or insightful articles that any members believe should be posted, please contact our webmaster [webmaster@psc-cuny.org] with the address. We will make every effort to post suggestions.

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RESOLUTION RE: US POLICY 

Passed at the March 21, 2002Delegate Assembly

Whereas, we believe that the PSC should take a position on current US policy on military engagement, and nuclear policy, 

Be it Resolved that during the next two months the PSC conduct an education and discussion process on the issue, both at the chapter level and University-wide, in preparation for formulating union policy

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Suggested questions for
general discussion:

Some general questions that might help spur discussion at your chapter meeting:

 What is the role and responsibility of an academic union and its members in addressing issues of war and peace? 

Specifically, how do you think higher education can, or will, be affected by the war on terrorism (government funding, in terms of freedom of expression, etc.)?

What difference does it make to our local that our national union and the AFL-CIO have taken positions on the war?

How do you define terrorism? What are the causes of terrorism?

Do you think the war on terrorism will make us safer?

When is military force justifiable?  When is it not?  Are there guidelines you can imagine in this case?

What are other ways to fight terrorism? 

What are the possible and actual international repercussions of the war on terrorism, as it is currently being pursued?

What are the domestic implications of the war on terrorism—economically, for civil liberties, etc.?

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Disclaimer:  The PSC has collected, presented and linked materials and writings on these issues to promote discussion and debate.  The PSC has not endorsed any of the views expressed in these writings, materials or links.  They are posted for the purpose of promoting dialog and discussion in the spirit of the the PSC Delegate Assembly March 21 Resolution (Be it Resolved that during the next two months the PSC conduct an education and discussion process on the issue, both at the chapter level and University-wide, in preparation for formulating union policy.)

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