THE WOMEN'S PEACE CRUSADE: FEMINIST PACIFISM AS POLITICAL RESISTANCE (1848–1939)

Abstract: Between 1848 and 1939, feminist pacifism emerged as a significant yet historically marginalized force in political thought on war and peace. This marginalization resulted from political opposition, where feminist pacifists were dismissed as naïve idealists or traitors, and from historiographical neglect, as mainstream pacifist narratives often centered male-dominated socialist or liberal internationalist movements. Rooted in both ideological critique and direct activism, feminist pacifists challenged the militarization of patriarchal societies, advocating for non-violent conflict resolution, disarmament, and international cooperation. This paper examines the evolution of feminist pacifism, tracing its development from the revolutions of 1848 to the interwar period, and argues that feminist pacifism was not merely a moral rejection of war but a radical resistance to militarized state power, economic imperialism, and gendered oppression. The study explores key feminist thinkers, organizations, and movements, beginning with Bertha von Suttner and Julia Ward Howe, who laid the groundwork for a gendered critique of war. Organizations such as the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) institutionalized feminist peace activism. The Hague Congress of 1915 and the Women’s Peace Crusade (1917) marked feminist pacifism’s transition from theory to direct resistance. The interwar period challenged feminist pacifism as fascism rose, forcing some to reconsider armed resistance. Additionally, non-Western feminist pacifists in anti-colonial movements opposed militarism as part of the fight against imperialism. Feminist pacifist critiques remain relevant today, shaping debates on conflict resolution, humanitarian intervention, and demilitarization and their intersectional approach continues to challenge dominant narratives on war and peace, offering alternative security frameworks that emphasize diplomacy over militarization.