 Transnational feminist politics: a concept that has outlived its usefulness?Bice Maiguashca Chapter 16 in Handbook on Gender in World Politics, 2026, pp 96-101 from Edward Elgar Publishing Abstract: This chapter critically evaluates the concept of ‘transnational feminism,’ arguing it functions best as a limited descriptive term for cross-border feminist cooperation. The author contends the concept is hindered by outdated debates that rely on false dichotomies, such as insider versus outsider politics or the dominance of Northern agendas. Drawing on empirical research with feminist anti-globalisation activists in the World Social Forum (WSF), the chapter challenges these generalizations. Findings show that activists often engage in multiple strategies simultaneously and that Southern-led networks are prominent in non-institutional spaces like the WSF. Their agendas holistically integrate material and cultural concerns, refuting claims of a narrow focus on identity politics. The author concludes by proposing that ‘transnational feminism’ be redefined to describe a broad social movement. This approach necessitates detailed, contextual research to move beyond simplistic assumptions and better understand the diverse realities of contemporary feminist struggles. Keywords: Transnational Feminism; Social Movement; Feminist Activism; Anti-globalisation; World Social Forum (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:21594_16 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing |
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