Throughout Northern Ireland, the term “civil society” refers to community and voluntary sector organisations, many of which are constituted by women as the majority of their membership. This book examines some of the invitations extended to women’s civil society organisations to contribute towards conflict transformation efforts, during the post-Good Friday Agreement period in Northern Ireland. Its focus is a case study approach of the Moyle Women’s Forum (1999-2004), an all-women's, cross-community organisation in the Moyle District, County Antrim.

Although the inclusion of women’s civil society organisations appears to "correct" women's historical exclusion, this book demonstrates that women's inclusion in invited spaces is insufficient to ensure their participation, and recognise their contributions. Their inclusion can subject women's civil society organisations to regimes of governmentality, shaped by persistent gender stereotypes. The author argues that women’s civil society efforts should, instead, actively adopt a "patchwork-like" approach that intentionally extends beyond the limited spaces into which they are invited. With a specific focus on Northern Ireland and its current transition away from the prolonged period of conflict, the book raises key questions about the expectations placed on civil society organisations in the ongoing and complex processes of conflict transformation in Northern Ireland.

Katherine Side is Assosiate Professor in the Department of Gender Studies, Memorial University. Currently Interim Associate Dean in the School of Graduate Studies, she has previously been Head, Department of Gender Studies, Memorial University, and the Margaret Laurence Scholar in Residence  in Gender and Women's Studies, Brandon University. Her research interests encompass conceptualisations and applications of citizenship and human rights, and issues of reproductive justice in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

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"Patching Peace contributes an exciting, innovative and very inspiring new piece of research to furthering our understanding of gendered civil society perspectives of peace."

Melanie Hoewer, Irish Political Studies

"[An] insightful, multi-layered, and absorbing book…"

Carmel Roulston, The Canadian Journal of Irish Studies

"An important analysis of a sometimes ignored (avoided?) topic relating to studies of Northern Ireland."

Sean Huddleston, Irish Studies Review