Mass Action, Not Sectarianism, Builds Effective Antiwar Movements
Source: Eric Blanc. "Sectarianism Has Never Ended a War." March 18, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
The author argues that today's antiwar activists should learn from the Vietnam era by focusing on building mass movements with clear demands rather than getting caught up in radical slogans or defending controversial figures. He believes sectarian politics and antisemitic rhetoric hurt the cause by alienating ordinary people who might otherwise join antiwar efforts.
Conclusion
Today's antiwar activists should adopt the mass action approach that helped end the Vietnam War, rather than engaging in sectarian politics that alienate potential supporters
Premises
- The Vietnam antiwar movement succeeded through independent mass action with clear, unambiguous demands like 'Out Now' rather than through liberal negotiations or sectarian sloganeering
- Sectarian approaches like demanding 'Victory to the Vietnamese Revolution' or adopting multi-issue platforms alienated ordinary Americans and shrank the movement's potential base
- Simple, concrete demands like 'Bring the Troops Home Now' were more effective at reaching ordinary people than complicated equivocal appeals favored by liberal negotiation advocates
- Current antiwar activists are repeating counterproductive sectarian mistakes by defending antisemitic rhetoric and engaging in performative radicalism instead of mass outreach
- Antisemitic remarks and bigotry make it much harder to build a mass movement to stop US militarism and aid to Israel
- The most effective antiwar organizing focuses outward on neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces rather than inward on ideological purity
Assumptions
- Mass movements are more effective at ending wars than elite political negotiations or radical sectarian groups
- Ordinary Americans can be mobilized against war if approached with clear, non-alienating messaging
- The Vietnam War analogy is applicable to current conflicts involving US military intervention
- Building broad coalitions requires avoiding ideologically divisive positions that turn away potential supporters
- Historical lessons from successful movements can guide contemporary organizing strategies