Year XXXIX, Number 1, July 2026

Melanie Thut

President Young European Federalists (JEF) Germany. PhD researcher on political economy.

Ursula Hirschmann already knew that women's liberation must be considered alongside the project of a united Europe. The Feminist Federalist Project, initiated in 2025 by young federalists from Italy and Germany, aims to revive Hirschmann's initiative 'Femmes pour l'Europe' 50 years after its launch and to integrate intersectional feminist thinking into federalism discourses. In these times of crisis for democracy, rising nationalism, the retraditionalisation of images of women and worldwide revolutionary movements led by women, this perspective is needed more than ever. Until now, feminist theory has rarely been incorporated into the discourse on federalism as a political and social project. This article argues that a feminist federalist project offers a transformative vision of federalism grounded in equality, inclusion and shared power. To this end, it first presents the intersection of feminist and federalist thinking, outlines democratic and political implications, and discusses the relevance for contemporary federalist debate.

The feminist federalist project combines key insights from feminism and federalism into a unified framework for democratic governance and social transformation. Putting feminism and federalism into perspective means linking the struggle for liberation with a political structure capable of sustaining it: a federal society and a state that institutionalizes freedoms and rights. From a feminist perspective, power is understood as relational and gendered, shaped by intersecting forms of inequality; intersectionality therefore becomes central in recognizing the specific struggles of different groups, particularly women. Feminist theory further emphasizes the importance of care, social reproduction, and inclusive participation, which are frequently marginalized in conventional political models. From a federalist perspective, core principles include shared sovereignty, multilevel democracy, and the protection of diversity. Federalism is conceived not as a hierarchical system but as a cooperative arrangement based on collaboration rather than domination. Rather than constituting a new wave of feminism, the feminist federalist project functions as a political instrument that enables feminist struggles to be pursued more effectively. Nation-states and patriarchal systems tend to centralize power and divide societies, while both feminism and federalism seek to distribute power more equally through decentralization and participatory governance. Nationalism often reinforces inequality, for instance by instrumentalizing women's bodies for demographic or ideological purposes or by restricting political rights. Feminist federalism counters this logic by opening political space for diverse identities and shared authority. In the convergence of these two perspectives, federalism is reshaped by feminist principles: autonomy is linked with solidarity, equality with diversity, and decentralization with social cohesion rather than fragmentation. At its core lie peace, non-violent coexistence, and the conviction that all individuals should be able to live in freedom and security and fully realize their potential. Federal thinking also broadens the understanding of politics by bringing decision-making closer to those affected, particularly at the local level, where women are often strongly networked and deeply engaged in their communities. The central claim of a feminist federalist project is thus that it redefines federalism as a democratic system grounded in inclusive citizenship and social justice.

What This Means for Democracy and Politics

A feminist federalist perspective is highly relevant to contemporary federalist debates in the European Union and the broader global context, as it connects normative theory with pressing political challenges. The EU continues to face a persistent democratic deficit alongside recurring crises of solidarity triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, migration, war, and climate change. At the same time, nationalist and anti-federalist narratives have gained momentum, reinforcing exclusionary notions of sovereignty and hierarchical governance. Feminist federalism offers an alternative framework by redefining federal integration as a project grounded not only in markets and institutions but in care, equality, and shared responsibility. In doing so, it strengthens democratic legitimacy through inclusive participation and recognition of marginalized voices, while promoting social cohesion across political and social levels. A concrete illustration of this approach is the European Citizens' Initiative My Voice, My Choice, which advocates for safe and accessible abortion rights and has collected over 1.2 million signatures across Europe. Feminists from numerous countries mobilized a federal instrument to act collectively where national governments have failed, demonstrating how a European umbrella can empower feminist demands beyond state borders and generate significant public visibility. This example shows how feminist federalism can function as a practical political strategy ideally anchored in a more genuinely federal Europe. Beyond the European context, feminist movements in regions such as Rojava further demonstrate the global relevance of this approach. There, a confederal system among different ethnic groups, including Kurds, has established a multi-ethnic political structure that actively includes minorities and challenges patriarchal power relations. Engagement with these ideas, for instance through initiatives such as the Israeli-Palestinian Federalist Peace Forum, illustrates that feminist federalism is not confined to Europe but represents a globally applicable normative and political framework for peace, inclusion, and democratic coexistence.

Ways forward

One year on from its founding, where do we stand with the Feminist Federalist Project? Through our online article series in the multilingual magazine The New Federalist, we initially explored the intersection of feminism and federalism, shedding light on the forgotten stories of feminist federalists such as Petra Kelly and Katharina Focke. Further areas to explore include a deeper examination of existing concepts, such as the confederalism model in Rojava and local feminist care practices, like those of the Saharawi. Ideas from the feminist movement in Iran are another area to explore. It is important to recognise that a feminist federalist perspective must be global because achieving freedom for all requires transnational solidarity.

However, questions concerning the intersection of the private and the political, transnational European care economies and other intersectional issues, such as race, class and religion, will also be highly relevant. Ultimately, the project aims to open up new spaces for imagining the future of a federal Europe and world order, and to serve as a political platform for realising this vision.