The National Women’s Alliance in interwar Yugoslavia: between feminist reform and institutional social politics

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article explores the history of the International Council of Women (ICW) affiliate, the National Women’s Alliance (NWA) in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes/Yugoslavia during the interwar period, by placing it in the broader history of humanitarianism, philanthropy and social work. In particular, it addresses the question how the NWA contributed to the interwar Yugoslav state from the perspective of social work, which is defined here as reform designed to remedy social inequalities and as collective action to develop the state’s duty of care towards those who cannot provide for themselves. By examining some aspects of the relationship between women’s charitable and feminist associations on the one hand, and the (emerging welfare) state on the other, this article seeks to open new questions regarding forms of cooperation between the NWA and the Yugoslav state, and thus shed light on the history of social policy and social work in interwar Yugoslavia.