Association internationale antimilitariste
First issue of L'Action Antimilitariste, the journal of the AIA
|
|
| Formation | 26 June 1904 |
|---|---|
| Extinction | 1908 |
| Purpose | Oppose militarism |
| Headquarters | 33 rue de la Grange-aux-Belles, Paris, France |
|
Region
|
Europe |
|
Membership
|
Largely anarchist |
The Association internationale antimilitariste (AIA; International Anti-Militarist Association) was a pacifist association founded in Amsterdam in 1904 that was dedicated to fighting militarism. Although technically open to all political views, it was dominated by anarchists. The members agreed that the workers should revolt if war were declared, but disagreed on whether soldiers should desert. They were subjected to police surveillance and arrests. By 1908 the association had few remaining members.
In December 1902 Georges Yvetot was one of the founders of the Ligue antimilitariste, along with fellow anarchists Henri Beylie, Paraf-Javal, Albert Libertad and Émile Janvion. The Ligue antimilitariste was to become the French section of the Association internationale antimilitariste (AIA). Beylie was secretary-treasurer of the league. In 1903 he published the brochure Le militarisme. Ses causes, ses conséquences, les moyens de le combattre.
The founder of the AIA was the Dutch pastor Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis of Amsterdam, a socialist who considered that militarism was created by the capitalist press, politicians and education. The anarchists Charles Malato, Urbain Gohier and Victor Méric were founding members of the AIA, also called the Association internationale antimilitariste des travailleurs (AIAT), in 1904. Yvetot and Miguel Almereyda (Eugène Vigo) led the French section and sat on the AIA committee. The AIA was open to workers of all political leanings, including socialists, syndicalists and anarchists. Yvetot wrote in the AIA bulletin, "There is no need that is more urgent than antimilitarist propaganda. ... This is why, outside of political groups, outside even of economic groups, the AIA truly has its raison d'être."
On 26-28 June 1904 the AIA held its founding congress in Amsterdam, with a 12-member delegation from France. L'Ennemi du Peuple reported that there were 4,500 attendees at the last public meeting, but this is probably an exaggeration. The congress was dominated by anarchists, but also included syndicalists and communists. The question of whether refusal of military service should be AIA strategy was hotly debated. Libertad and Paraf-Javal considered the simple call for desertion as too timid, and refused to participate further.
...
Wikipedia