The history of the anti-nuclear disarmament movement and its significance

Flags fly representing the campaign for nuclear disarmament. // Photo courtesy of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Hofstra’s Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs hosted a virtual event on Thursday, April 28, discussing the role of the anti-nuclear and disarmament movement in the United States and Soviet Union’s place in a nuclear war in the 1980s. Margaret Melkonian, Hofstra’s guest speaker and co-founder of the Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, outlined the lessons learned from the Cold War and its relevance to the current Ukraine and Russia crisis, given the risk of the possible use of nuclear weapons. 

“When I first talked to Mrs. Melkonian, I was primarily thinking about Hiroshima and Nagasaki that led to the anti-nuclear disarmament movement,” said Yuki Terazawa, a professor of Asian American history at Hofstra.  “We had never thought that there would be a serious and an immediate nuclear threat that we are witnessing regarding this Ukraine-Russia conflict. When the Cold War ended, we thought we could move towards the elimination of nuclear weapons, but the world didn’t move that way.” 

Melkonian reminded students that both Russia and the United States have a “hair trigger” policy. “By accidental miscalculation, these weapons could be used,” she said. “If we think we’re going to be attacked, we’re going to use those nuclear weapons.”  

This June marks the 40th anniversary of one million people gathering in New York City calling for nuclear disarmament.  Melkonian stated that similar calls to action are happening today because of increased education on the use of nuclear weapons and their environmental and financial impact.  

Melkonian stated that the world has spent well over $2 trillion in military spending, and the top contributors include the United States, China, India and the U.K. “If you look at outcomes, where you spend your money and where you make your investments, how you train people – how you educate people, that’s the outcome that you get,” she said. “I argue that we need to make a shift where we’re teaching peace, we’re educating about peace, we’re asking what peace is.”  

One of the most pressing questions students had was how world leaders like Vladimir Putin can continue with numerous threats by the use of nuclear weapons. Melkinian stated that many changes need to be made, but one of them includes a new global framework. The actions of Putin are under intense scrutiny on the world stage. Currently, Putin is being investigated by the United Nations and the International Court, but one of the problems Melkonin sees is that major powers have been able to do what they want without being held accountable. Melkonin does not think there are sufficient international systems in place to hold major global powers accountable. “I’m not one to criticize the Criminal International Court,” Melonian said, “but most of the focus has been on other countries, developing countries, rather than countries with significant influence.” 

“I’m glad I attended this event and got to learn more about how to create a safer, more peaceful world,” said Noah Armando Masi, a senior history major.  

“When you have someone thoroughly explaining the events that took place and their consequences you will learn a lot,” said Serop Tirakian, a freshman economics major. “My views didn’t change, but they’ve definitively expanded.” 

 Melkonian’s closing remarks echoed the sentiment that she carried throughout her talk, alluding to the teachings of Gandhi. She concluded that education and an understanding of the world’s stage are how everyday people can make a difference in political climates. Melkonian also stressed that the first steps to achieving goals of peace are a high level of involvement from regular citizens in the political atmosphere and activism. “If we want to pursue peace, we have to become what we want to be,” she said.