About this book:

*Women at War* challenges the traditional, male-centric narratives of conflict in the Middle East by centering women as active protagonists rather than passive victims. Spanning diverse geographies—from the frontlines of Rojava and the resistance in Palestine to the relief networks of Yemen and the protest cycles of Iran—the book documents how women navigate the wreckage of war. It details their roles as combatants, local ceasefire brokers, community health providers, and economic managers. By tracing histories of mobilization from colonial resistance to modern uprisings, the text illustrates that women’s agency is not a novel phenomenon but a long-standing engine of societal change.

The book delves into the "invisible" labor that sustains communities during state collapse. It explores the gendered dimensions of wartime economies, where women manage vital remittance flows and informal markets, and the "care economy," where they provide essential healthcare, education, and psychosocial support in the absence of functioning institutions. The analysis also addresses the darker realities of conflict, including the systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and the terror of enforced disappearances. In these contexts, women emerge as de facto human rights defenders, painstakingly documenting abuses and advocating for survivors’ justice through both local customary laws and international legal frameworks.

A central theme is the strategic necessity of inclusive peacebuilding. The text argues that traditional peace processes, often restricted to male elites, fail to address root causes or ensure community safety. By examining "Track II" diplomacy, municipal council leadership in Libya, and the ideological shifts in Kurdish territories, the book demonstrates that peace agreements are more durable when women influence their design. It highlights the importance of integrating a gender lens into Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration (DDR) programs to prevent a relapse into violence and to build institutions that reflect the needs of all citizens.

Ultimately, *Women at War* provides a comprehensive policy roadmap that advocates for the localization of the UN’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. It calls for direct funding of grassroots women-led organizations, the protection of female activists, and the enshrining of gender equality in post-conflict constitutional talks. By emphasizing that women’s leadership is fundamental to human security, the book argues that true stability in the Middle East is unattainable without the full and equitable participation of women in every stage of recovery, from the kitchen to the negotiating table.

What You'll Find Inside:

• Women's combat and leadership roles in groups like the Kurdish YPJ and Yazidi units reshape gender norms and intertwine national liberation with gender equality.
• Local ceasefires, prisoner exchanges, and community mediation are frequently brokered by women, revealing the power of grassroots peacebuilding.
• Women's informal economic networks—remittances, informal markets, cooperatives, and digital tools—sustain households and wartime economies when formal systems collapse.
• Documentation, advocacy, and legal reform efforts led by women address sexual and gender-based violence, pushing for survivor‑centered justice and accountability.
• Education initiatives led by women—including secret classrooms, remote learning, and psychosocial support—preserve knowledge and foster resilience amid conflict.

Who's It For:

This book is essential for scholars of gender, conflict, and Middle East studies; practitioners in humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, and human rights; policymakers and international organization staff implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda; activists and civil society leaders seeking evidence‑based strategies; and graduate students interested in interdisciplinary research on war, peace, and women's agency.