Anti-war? Rethinking the 20th century

A panel of leading historians and a political scientist will discuss the anti-war movement in Australia and overseas during the 20th century at the State Library of Queensland on July 9.

“Being anti-war is not new but it takes a particular type of courage to pursue,” said Professor Fiona Paisley, from the Griffith Centre for Cultural Research.

“What if we examine the 20thcentury through an anti-war lens? How does it look from a perspective of opposition to war and what can that tell us about where we are today?

“How has warfare been experienced, remembered and resisted, and by whom? And why should that vibrant, painful history be important to us?”

Chaired by Radio National’s Kate Evans, the panel comprises Professor Karen Hagemann from the University of North Carolina, Professor Neta Crawford from Boston University, Associate Professor Victoria Haskins from the University of Newcastle and Professor Fiona Paisley from Griffith University.

The panel will discuss their work on gender, war, memory in Europe; women and the anti-war movement in Australia during WW1, internationalists and pacifism in the interwar Asia-Pacific, Aboriginal Australian internationalism in Europe and the human cost of modern warfare today.

Brisbane anti-conscription in WWI, civilian memories in WWII and international networks working to secure peace throughout world will also be explored.

WHAT: Anti War? Rethinking the Twentieth Century

WHEN: Wednesday July 9, 6.30pm-7.30pm

WHERE: Auditorium, Level 2, State Library of Queensland