Kristina Lunz is the co-founder and co-Executive Director of the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy.

"In a time of growing cynicism and shrinking democratic space, Kristina Lunz reminds us that empathy and resistance are not contradictions – they are our most powerful tools for change. This book is a timely, courageous call to action."Margot Wallström, former Foreign Minister of Sweden and pioneer of feminist foreign policy"Kristina Lunz draws on a strong background of learning, and the courage to set up and drive important initiatives for women. Like her I have found that women frequently possess the most effective skills for preventing and resolving conflict. Their insights, their courage and their proposals deserve far more financial and practical support worldwide, if future conflicts are to be resolved without disaster."Dr Scilla Elworthy, founder of Peace Direct and the Oxford Research Group and three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee"This is a refreshing message at a time of division and tension... the way out of the ugly politics of the 2020s lies in this balance of empathy and resistance, and there is real wisdom in Lunz's exploration of these themes."The Earthbound Report"By foregrounding the voices of women from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, the book presents a vision of solidarity and responsibility that resonates strongly with social work values in an increasingly polarized modern world."Affilia: Feminist Inquiry in Social Work

• 1. How I found my compass 2. Empathy Empathy is not a cure-all Openness instead of judgement and condemnation Humanity Growth Peacebuilding3. Resistance Sisterhood Deconstructing is important, but constructing is even better Non-ideological action Activist’s dilemma Cynicism as ostensible resistance and intellectual laziness4. The tools for empathy and resistance Hope KnowledgeNetworks5. My compass in tempestuous times Empathy is not a zero-sum game Constructive impatience Difficult women The significance of utopias Power and the law The noise out there6. Women of empathy and resistance Ailbhe Smyth: the legalization of abortion in Ireland Beatrice Fihn: the path to nuclear disarmament Düzen Tekkal: groundbreaking recognition of a genocide Stellah BosireGloria Steinem7. Why empathy and resistance are so important nowAcknowledgementsNotes