ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the practice of local politics from the viewpoint of the largest of the network's affiliates, Peace Action West. Peace Action West worked with the Peace Action affiliate network to create the Campaign for a New Foreign Policy. The importance and impact of electoral strategies to elect 'peace candidates' directly has waxed and waned during the 50 years of Peace Action history. Although they have worked to craft messages based on mainstream values and principles, that doesn't mean that they have shied away from hard-hitting messages or biting satire. Near the beginning of the Cold War, SANE played a critical role in securing the first nuclear arms control treaty, the Partial Test Ban Treaty. Peace Action West believes the peace movement needs to maintain a robust electoral program similar to what Freeze Voter had in 1984 if they want to fundamentally change the direction of foreign policy in this country.
