The First World War became a battleground over women’s politics. While some women’s organisations promoted patriotism, recruitment and the shaming of men who refused to enlist, others joined the fight against militarism and imperialist slaughter.

From suffragettes embracing the war effort to socialist women such as Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg organising international resistance, women were divided over nationalism, class and solidarity.

This session explores these competing traditions and asks what their history reveals about feminism, socialism and the struggle against war.