CND: the challenge of the post-war era

The intention of this work has been threefold. Firstly it examines in some detail the history of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) from its inception during the late 1950's to the beginning of the 1990's, as the Peace Movement begins to respond to the changes wrought by the ending of the cold war at the end of the 1980's. It examines in detail the relationship between the movement and their supporters and opponents. In particular, detailed attention is paid to the relationships that have existed between CND and the British Labour Party, as well as the wider Political Opportunity Structure - other major political parties, associated pressure groups, the Trade Union movement and the established churches. Secondly, it examines the utility of the various Social Movement theories that are in existence, and applies these directly to CND in both an historical and contemporary context. Extensive examination of these theories will reveal that in the case of the majority (Resource Mobilisation, Relative Deprivation, New Social Movement theory), these are of limited utility in the case of CND in particular and British Social Movements in general. Finally, with the use of original survey data and statistical analysis, the thesis will evaluate these perspectives, and will conclude with a discussion of new approaches to the study of the wider Social Movement phenomenon. In particular, the final chapter will discuss the concept of 'Habitual Membership' as a possible explanation for continuing CND membership and activity in the post cold-war period of the early 1990's.