military in society
Record number of protests against Armed Forces Day across the UK
28/06/2025
Joint press release by ForcesWatch and the Peace Pledge Union
Hope in a time of luminous insanity
Reflecting on this dark time and commemorations of another 80 years ago, Joe Glenton writes on balancing hope and pessimism.
A back door to Parliament for defence contractors: mapping arms company influence in APPGs
Our research on the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces found very little transparency and a huge amount of corporate sponsorship, and defence companies continue their involvement in APPGs in the new parliament.
Complicit partners? The UK-Israel Roadmap
In 2023 the UK and Israel agreed an extensive 'Roadmap' for cooperation and partnership. We explore its material and ideological commitments on issues like economics and defence, and consider the implications of this relationship for peace and security.
International antimilitarism
A round-up of our recent podcast series featuring activists working against militarism in Israel, the US and South Korea, dissenting voices from the Ukrainian war and the UK, and a Palestinian experience of militarised occupation.
100 days of Starmer: no substantial change to UK militarism
Some token foreign policy developments have been made but the opportunity for setting a new tone around defence and security has been missed.
Dark Matter: The UK military ventures into space
A new space-race is militarising the heavens. We look at recent developments, UK alliances, the defence companies involved, and the woeful lack of parliamentary scrutiny.
‘Honourable and Gallant Members’: Patrician militarism prevails under Labour
Johnny Mercer may have lost his seat, but military ‘values and standards’ are here to stay in British politics
Is Anti-Militarism Unpatriotic?
June 2024
On Armed Forces Day 2024, we examine the incentives behind these events. Where did Armed Forces Day come from and what is it trying to achieve? Armed Forces Day is a display of militarism. Branded as 'family fun' days, it fails to address the grim realities of war, and acts as a soft recruitment tool, allowing children to handle weapons and play on military vehicles.
Declining interest in Armed Forces Day welcomed by peace campaigners
29/06/2024
Peace campaigners have welcomed the news that there will be no national event for Armed Forces Day this year, as no local councils have come forward to host it. Local events to mark Armed Forces Day (29th June) this weekend are facing growing resistance from groups and individuals concerned about its uncritical portrayal of war and the armed forces.