Statement of Purpose

March 2009

The Campaign for Peace and Democracy is dedicated to advancing a new, progressive and non-militaristic U.S. foreign policy -- one that encourages democracy and social justice by promoting solidarity with activists and progressive movements throughout the world. We stand in opposition to existing U.S. foreign policy, which is based on domination, militarism, fear of popular struggles, enforcement of an inequitable and cruel global economy, and -- despite the democratic rhetoric -- persistent support for authoritarian regimes.

Founded in 1982, the Campaign opposed the Cold War by calling for "detente from below." It engaged Western peace activists in the defense of the rights of democratic dissidents in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and enlisted East-bloc human rights activists against anti-democratic U.S. policies in countries like Nicaragua and Chile. Along with the European Nuclear Disarmament Movement, the Campaign was recognized internationally for its leadership in building grassroots solidarity across the Cold War divide, and for its refusal to "choose sides" in the East-West conflict. CPD rejected the self-destructive notion that "The enemy of my enemy must be my friend."

The Campaign has always maintained that without global economic justice there can be no lasting peace, and has opposed the ruinous and unfair international economic policies of the United States. After the fall of Communism, the Campaign spoke out against the application of these policies to the former East-bloc countries -- the imposition of "shock therapy" that fostered widespread economic misery.

Today, millions of Americans have a growing sense of unease about U.S. foreign policy, a sense that instead of bringing real peace or security it only serves to strengthen authoritarianism, political fundamentalism and terrorism. In its 2002 statement "We Oppose Both Saddam Hussein and the U.S. War on Iraq: A call for a new, democratic U.S. foreign policy," CPD outlined an alternative foreign policy for the United States. The following set of principles, adapted from that statement, could form the basis for a radically new and positive relationship between the U.S. and the rest of the world.

A U.S. government that carried out a foreign policy based on these principles and implemented them at home -- would be in a position to honestly and consistently foster democracy around the world. It could encourage democratic forces (not unrepresentative cliques, but genuinely popular parties and movements). Some of these forces exist today, others have yet to arise, but all would be strengthened if the U.S. were to abandon its current imperial foreign policy.

Only such a foreign policy could begin to reverse the mistrust and outright hatred felt by so much of the world's population toward the U.S. At the same time, it would weaken the power of dictatorships and the appeal of terrorism and reactionary religious fundamentalism.

The goal of U.S. foreign policy today is the promotion of a U.S. global imperium. Ordinary people everywhere, including in the United States itself, need to know that there is another America, made up of those who both recognize the urgent need for global democracy and reject our government's militaristic and imperial foreign policy. We declare our intention to strengthen this Other America. That means working to rein in the war-makers and to build the most powerful antiwar movement possible, and at the same time to forge links of solidarity and concrete support for democratic forces throughout the world. We invite you to join us.

HIGHLIGHTS OF CPD INITIATIVES, 2002-2009: