Statement of Purpose

The Campaign for Peace and Democracy is dedicated to promoting a new, progressive and non-militaristic U.S. foreign policy -- one that encourages democratization, justice and social change throughout the world by promoting solidarity and political and economic cooperation. We stand in opposition to existing U.S. foreign policy, which is based on domination, militarism, fear of popular movements, 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 promoting "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 insecurity

Today, many 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 2003 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

We call on the United States to:

• Renounce the use of military intervention to extend and consolidate U.S. imperial power, and to withdraw its troops from the Middle East and the rest of the world.
• Take a clear stand against corrupt and authoritarian governments, e.g. Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, Egypt and Pakistan, as well as North Korea, Iran, or Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
• Oppose, and end U.S. complicity in, all forms of terrorism worldwide -- not just by anti-U.S. forces like Al Qaeda or the Taliban, but also by forces
• Support the right of self-determination for all peoples, including the Kurds, Tibetans, Chechens, Palestinians and Israeli Jews.
• Take unilateral steps toward renouncing weapons of mass destruction, above all nuclear weapons, and vigorously promoting international disarmament
• Defend the environment from both governmental and corporate depredation.
• Abandon economic policies that bring mass misery to people in large parts of the world. Initiate a major foreign aid program directed at popular rather than corporate needs.
• Give consistent support for democratic liberties and economic justice everywhere, including the United States.

A U.S. government that carried out these policies 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 flower if nurtured by a new U.S. foreign policy.

These initiatives, taken together, would constitute a truly democratic foreign policy that allows the people of the world to rule themselves. Only such a 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 an undisguised 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.