Feminism in mainstream IR theory
Description
“Although different strands of feminism differ in their understandings of what what it means, they all argue that mainstream IR theory (realism, liberalism, Marxism) ignore or fail to recognize the importance of gender in thinking about actors, processes and outcomes in the politics of an insecure world”. form there you can mention: lthough both liberalism and realist share the understanding that
(a) the international system is anarchic in structure – meaning ‘no single world government’, and that
(b) states are important actors, seeking their own security. Where they differ is in arguing about what that means for ‘behaviour’. Liberals argue that institutions and ‘rules’ or ‘norms’ do have independent effects on shaping states’ preferences and behaviour. Realists argue that institutions and rules are expressions of the strongest states’ power, and so do not have ‘different’ effects on those states’ behaviour.
Neither realists nor liberals in that sense focus on individuals when they are thinking about international security/insecurity. However, liberal ‘democratic peace’ theory does open some space to think about ‘people’ in terms of the nature of political regimes, and how that political nature (democratic, authoritarian) also shapes how states act because of the form of government.
You are right about feminists generally, as feminism would critique both realists and liberal theorists for failing to take explicit account of women, as individual humans and/or as a significant ‘category’ of actor in experiencing and shaping security/insecurity.
and then explore what you think feminism does which is different in helping us to look at security/insecurity.
The files you need for this assignment are here you may use additional sources as long as they are credible
you do not have to use all the articles but you should skim through them so you have an understanding.
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