The Peace Script

Exposes how appeals to civility, harmony, and nonaggression can unwittingly underpin exclusionary assumptions about race, gender, and class

Offering an innovative critique of peace rhetoric throughout US history, The Peace Script: Framing Violence in US Anti-War Dissent reexamines the language of dissent with lessons for our era defined by digital activism and fierce political debates. Dominic J. Manthey explores the peace arguments of various movements, including the Copperhead Movement during the Civil War, the Anti-Imperialist League's stance against US colonialism, Henry Ford's Peace Ship expedition during World War I, the Mothers' Movement during World War II, and the Vietnam Veterans against the War. Each chapter reveals how these movements, while advocating for peace, often upheld or encouraged racial, gender, and class inequalities.

Manthey navigates the complex terrain of grassroots activism by blending rhetorical criticism and historical insight to tell readers about the "peace script" that has echoed across America's many wars. Through archival materials and case studies, The Peace Script reveals how anti-war movements craft compelling narratives that dramatize society through heroes, antagonists, and transformative ideals.

Redefining the struggle for peace as not only a fight against warfare but also a battle over space, identity, and the right to live with dignity, The Peace Script is essential for scholars of history, rhetoric, and social justice. Manthey provides a crucial perspective on the intersection of race, memory and power, offering urgent insights into how these legacies continue to shape society today.