Capitalism is the most violent social system in history. There are constant wars, police brutality, and billions face the structural violence of poverty. Pacifists reject violence in all its forms and argue that political movements should be non-violent to embody the qualities they desire from society. But what do ‘violence’ and ‘peace’ mean in a society divided into classes? Is it possible to confront power through purely peaceful means? This session will critique pacifism from a Marxist perspective, arguing that abstract moral concepts like ‘non-violence’ can’t be universally applied in capitalism, and that a pacifist approach can’t lead the movement necessary to rid the world of violence.