Antibase movements can win concessions even when they lose the main fight

Evidence

Though the No Dal Molin movement failed to stop the construction of the new base in Vicenza, it did win a concession. The U.S. military agreed to move the base from its originally planned location at the civilian airport on the east side of the Dal Molin site to a former Italian Air Force base on the site’s west side. The mayor declared the eastern half would be a permanent “Peace Park,” although the city hasn’t decided yet what it will look like. The antibase activists themselves are divided about what this park represents. Several neighborhood associations, who see the entire Dal Molin site as space stolen from Vicenza’s people, regard the park as a reminder of the movement’s defeat. Others see it as a tangible victory, a “beautiful space,” and “a peaceful provocation” to the new base—a way of constantly reminding the soldiers that there is another way to live, one that does not revolve around making war. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 939

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The antibusing movement reframed a legal defeat as a political-popular fight that must extend. — Matthew D. Lassiter, The Suburban Origins of “Color-Blind”…, 68; An insurgency’s victory can rest on preventing defeat, not winning battles — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 352; A reform organization could win respect for principle while losing every major fight — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 583 (+2 more)