In her dissertation, MSSc Zahra Edalati examines how Iranian women’s rights activists in Iran and in exile work together across ideological, political, and geographical divides. The study explores how they develop strategies for collective action despite their different histories, experiences, and political positions. By developing the concept of feminist transversal peace, the dissertation shows that feminist responses to patriarchy, discrimination, and violence are shaped through transversal tactics such as the (de)politicization of women’s rights, non-movement and micro-feminist action, and storytelling. By introducing the rope of resistance in exile, it offers a new understanding of solidarity as a strategic practice that emerges through, rather than despite, differences. The study pays particular attention to subaltern women and challenges one-size-fits-all approaches in feminist peace studies. Bringing together research participants, the researcher, key authors, and the reader around a metaphorical kitchen table, it creates space for dialogue, friction, and doubt.
The doctoral dissertation titled Transversal feminist peace: Iranian women’s movement(s) and the potential for doing politics across differences by MSSc Zahra Edalati will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere University on 16 October 2026. The dissertation is in the field of Peace and Conflict Research.
The opponent will be Associate Professor Mulki Al-Sharmani from the University of Helsinki. The Custos will be Professor Tarja Väyrynen from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University.