Book: Parliamentary Peace Resolution

Historical Context
Fredrik Bajer, a Danish parliamentarian and leading pacifist of the late 19th century, placed the question of organized, peaceful conflict resolution at the center of public life. The wider European climate of 1883 was marked by militarization, nationalist tensions and a growing transnational peace movement that sought alternatives to war through arbitration, public education and civil society action. The "Parliamentary Peace Resolution" emerged from this environment as a concrete parliamentary initiative to give organized peace work a recognized national foundation.
Bajer viewed the state and its legislature as instruments that could both restrain belligerent impulses and foster a civic culture of peaceful dispute settlement. The proposal reflected the belief that parliamentary endorsement and civic organization could reinforce each other: a public mandate would legitimize and strengthen private associations dedicated to peace, while active civil societies would in turn pressure governments toward diplomacy and arbitration.

Main Proposal and Structure
At the heart of the document is a proposal to establish a national peace organization under parliamentary auspices, conceived not as a government department but as a broadly supported civic institution with formal recognition. The resolution called for an entity that would coordinate local and national peace societies, promote international arbitration, collect and disseminate information about peaceful dispute settlement, and serve as a focal point for public education on the benefits of diplomacy over armed conflict.
The organizational model emphasized inclusivity and civic engagement. Membership and leadership would span political lines, drawing on associations, municipalities and voluntary organizations to create a united front for nonviolent conflict resolution. The resolution also envisaged a dialogue between the parliament and this organization, enabling lawmakers to consult with an informed, representative body advocating peaceful policies.

Arguments and Rationale
Bajer grounded his arguments in pragmatic as well as moral reasoning. He maintained that war was costly, destructive and increasingly unnecessary given the progress of international law and diplomatic practice. Establishing a national mechanism dedicated to peace would help prevent conflicts from escalating and would cultivate habits of negotiation and arbitration within public opinion and political practice.
Another key rationale was democratic: a visible, organized peace movement would empower citizens to make peace a political priority, creating a counterweight to militaristic interests and to the bureaucratic momentum toward arms. Bajer argued that parliamentary backing would lend credibility and stability to peace efforts, helping to institutionalize nonviolent norms in both domestic policy and foreign relations.

Anticipated Mechanisms and Activities
The resolution set out practical instruments for achieving its goals: promotion of international arbitration treaties, sponsorship of public lectures and debates, publication of studies and reports, support for grassroots peace societies and facilitation of contacts with similar organizations abroad. It stressed education as a long-term strategy, advocating school curricula and public campaigns that would cultivate a culture of peace among future generations.
In addition, the resolution envisioned active parliamentary oversight and cooperation, recommending that the legislature consult the national peace organization on relevant measures and consider non-military avenues in diplomatic crises. It did not propose the abolition of armed forces but sought to make peaceful negotiation the default, institutionalized behavior of the polity.

Impact and Legacy
The "Parliamentary Peace Resolution" helped to consolidate Danish pacifist activity and influenced the broader international peace movement by demonstrating how parliamentary endorsement could strengthen civil society initiatives. It contributed to the growth of organized peace societies in Denmark and inspired similar proposals elsewhere, feeding into the evolving repertoire of nonviolent conflict resolution that culminated in later international arbitration arrangements and multilateral institutions.
Bajer's resolution is often seen as a formative step in merging parliamentary politics with grassroots peace advocacy, an approach that anticipated interwar and postwar efforts to institutionalize peaceful settlement mechanisms. Its legacy endures in the idea that democratic legislatures can both champion and institutionalize peace through support for civil initiatives, education and the promotion of diplomatic channels.