Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This book examines how feminists in Russia and Serbia view power dynamics within transnational feminism in the context of rising authoritarianism. These authoritarian regimes co-opt emancipatory narratives, particularly the critique of Western hegemony, to delegitimize feminism as a ‘foreign’ threat to traditional values. It examines how changing perceptions of power shape feminists’ agency, priorities, and strategies for resistance. Using a comparative case study, the book challenges critical theory’s argument that transnational feminism primarily acts as an exercise of Othering, cementing Western domination. Drawing on interviews with over 70 feminists, conference proceedings, memoirs, and feminist scholarship, it shows that this critique loses relevance under authoritarianism. In fact, Serbian and Russian feminists reject it because it echoes their regimes’ rhetoric, which frames feminism and ‘gender ideology’ as Western tools used to undermine traditional values and national identity. These feminists’ focus thus shifts to resisting authoritarian narratives, redefining power relations not only transnationally but also domestically. As a result, one central strategy for feminists in Russia and Serbia is to craft alternative, non-co-optable visions of transnational feminism. The book traces these alternative visions across four different post-communist generations of feminists. As such, the book argues for rethinking power in critical theory to remain relevant and emancipatory, recognizing that what was once liberatory may now reinforce oppression. This work updates critical theory by incorporating the lived experiences of feminists under authoritarian rule, offering insights into sustaining feminist agency and subversion in constrained political landscapes.</jats:p>