Strategic pragmatism:
Barthélémy, Pascale
Strategic pragmatism: - 2023.
5
Transnational histories of the Cold War period (1947-1963) often focus on protagonists from the Eastern and Western blocs. This article shifts the perspective to analyze African women activists’ links to three key international women’s organizations during the Cold War: the Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF), the International Council of Women (ICW) and the International Alliance of Women (IAW). By focusing on the years prior to the UN Women’s Conferences (1975-1995), the article proposes a new chronology for the history of women’s international activism since the Second World War. It argues that African women activists were full participants in Cold War history, determined to make their struggles known across national borders. By so doing, it contributes to both a transnational history of African women’s activism and a reconsideration of decolonization narratives which are often framed around male actors. A central argument of this article is that African women activists challenged the “logic of blocs” and their corresponding “spheres of influence” that dominated Cold War politics. First, these activists did not consistently align with the diplomatic positions of their home countries, regardless of whether their nations were aligned with the West, the East, or the non-aligned movement. Second, they frequently engaged with multiple international organizations to identify those most likely to advance their causes. By making such deliberate and strategic connections, African women activists were demonstrating what this article terms “strategic pragmatism,” navigating complex geopolitical landscapes to advocate for their agendas effectively.
Strategic pragmatism: - 2023.
5
Transnational histories of the Cold War period (1947-1963) often focus on protagonists from the Eastern and Western blocs. This article shifts the perspective to analyze African women activists’ links to three key international women’s organizations during the Cold War: the Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF), the International Council of Women (ICW) and the International Alliance of Women (IAW). By focusing on the years prior to the UN Women’s Conferences (1975-1995), the article proposes a new chronology for the history of women’s international activism since the Second World War. It argues that African women activists were full participants in Cold War history, determined to make their struggles known across national borders. By so doing, it contributes to both a transnational history of African women’s activism and a reconsideration of decolonization narratives which are often framed around male actors. A central argument of this article is that African women activists challenged the “logic of blocs” and their corresponding “spheres of influence” that dominated Cold War politics. First, these activists did not consistently align with the diplomatic positions of their home countries, regardless of whether their nations were aligned with the West, the East, or the non-aligned movement. Second, they frequently engaged with multiple international organizations to identify those most likely to advance their causes. By making such deliberate and strategic connections, African women activists were demonstrating what this article terms “strategic pragmatism,” navigating complex geopolitical landscapes to advocate for their agendas effectively.
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