Bridging Divides Through Gender-Just Citizenship : Women’s Political Participation, Grassroots Peacebuilding and Transversal Politics in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This open access book explores how to build a gender-just peace in which women’s political citizenship is foregrounded through a case study of Northern Ireland. It addresses the role that civil society can play in peacebuilding and in political life in deeply divided transitional societies. It specifically focuses on women’s groups, and, as such, studies what grassroots peacebuilding across an ethnic divide can look like in practice. Further, it analyses what it means to build a gender equal citizenship based on the lived expertise and experiences of women’s activism, political participation and interethnic cooperation during and after conflict. Based on material collected through interviews, participant observation and official documents, the book explores the potential for gender-just political citizenship but also the risk of backlash in terms of women’s rights during a transition from armed conflict to peace. Essential reading for students and researchers in Political Science, Gender Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Transitional Justice.