Quiet Protest

A new history of protest told through quiet activism.

The Vietnam War sparked the largest public demonstrations Australia had ever seen. Hundreds of thousands of citizens actively opposed the war in the 1960s and 70s.

Quiet Protest uncovers a hidden side of this movement, telling the story of activism that was powered by letter-writing, legal aid, fundraising and everyday conversations. The public anti-Vietnam War protest movement was unprecedented, but so was the ‘quieter’ movement. By focusing on the anti-Vietnam War movement in NSW, this book offers a case study which re-imagines our understanding of protest.

These quieter acts of dissent reshaped political engagement and laid the groundwork for future movements – from feminist organising to climate justice. Historian Effie Karageorgos offers a captivating new perspective on what it means to protest, and who gets remembered.

‘A new and original history of protests against the Vietnam War that also broadens our understanding of the meaning and forms of “protest” itself.’ – Professor Sean Scalmer, University of Melbourne School of Historical and Philosophical Studies

‘Effie Karageorgos dives deep in the archives, revealing the mechanics and diversities of a mass protest movement. There is nothing else like it.’ – Rowan Cahill, historian and co-author of Radical Sydney

‘An absorbing history, this book sizzles with thought-provoking insights into opposition to Australia’s role in the Vietnam War. It is history that evokes a tumultuous past and speaks to our troubled present.’ – Ann Curthoys, historian and protester

‘Effie Karageorgos takes us under the bonnet of the anti-Vietnam War protests to provide a fresh perspective on Australia’s democracy. Behind the familiar names and big protests, there were many thousands of Australians quietly debating and donating, writing to the papers and signing petitions, maintaining silent vigils and offering conscientious objectors their sympathy, understanding and moral support. This is a vivid account of a living democracy confronting one of the biggest controversies of the twentieth century.’ – Frank Bongiorno, Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas, University of Canberra

‘More than a history book, Quiet Protest provides great insights into how protests deliver wins for progressive movements.’ – Lee Rhiannon, former Australian Greens Senator

About the Author

Effie Karageorgos is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Newcastle. She teaches and researches histories of protest, mental health, gender, war and violence. She was awarded the State Library of New South Wales David Scott Mitchell Fellowship in 2023. She is Deputy Co-Director of the UON Centre for Society, Health and Care Research and co-editor of Health and History journal.