Liberation (magazine)

Liberation was a radical left-wing magazine published in the United States from 1956 to 1977. Founded by A.J. Muste, Dave Dellinger, and Roy Finch, among others, it emerged from the pacifist and socialist movements of the post-World War II era.

The magazine served as a platform for a diverse range of voices advocating for peace, civil rights, economic justice, and social change. Liberation published articles, essays, and poetry by prominent activists, intellectuals, and writers, including Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Camus, C. Wright Mills, and Barbara Deming. It covered issues such as the Vietnam War, nuclear disarmament, racial segregation, poverty, and the counterculture movement.

Liberation played a significant role in shaping the New Left and anti-war movements. It provided a space for critical analysis of American society and foreign policy, as well as promoting nonviolent resistance as a strategy for social transformation. The magazine's editorial stance was broadly anarchist-pacifist, emphasizing decentralization, direct action, and participatory democracy.

While its circulation was relatively small, Liberation exerted considerable influence on radical thought and activism during its two decades of publication. Its legacy continues to be recognized by scholars and activists interested in the history of the American left and the struggle for social justice. After 1977, the magazine ceased publication.