‘Which’ Women Matter in Peacebuilding? Exploring Women’s Grassroots Peacebuilding as Mobilised through Compassion in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This article explores the grassroots peacebuilding approaches of women in Northern Ireland (NI), focusing on their compassionate and transversal strategies within a deeply patriarchal and conflict-ridden context. Drawing from fifteen semi-structured interviews with women involved in Peace People and other organisations, the study highlights how these women navigated ethnic identity politics and militarism to promote inclusive peace initiatives. Using Elisabeth Porter’s concept of the Politics of Compassion as a framework, the research illustrates how solidarity and empathy served as powerful political tools for these peacebuilders, enabling them to transcend gendered divisions and challenge prevailing power structures. Additionally, the article examines Transversal Politics, demonstrating how grassroots women skilfully navigated conflicting identities and differences to foster diversity and inclusion. The research further explicates how these efforts not only questioned gender-based sectarianism but also illuminated the role of non-violent activism rooted in compassion and justice.