Gender and Militarism: Analysing the links to strategise for peace

In their publication “Gender, Conflict and PeaceÀ (2013),Dyan Mazurana and Keith Proctor state: “Contrary to popular belief, the academic literature increasingly argues that a strategy of non-violence is more effective than violence in achieving policy goals. According to data analyzed by Stephan and Chenoweth, between 1900 to 2006 non-violent campaigns were successful in achieving their policy goals 53 percent of the time, whereas violent campaigns only had a success rate of 26 percent. According to the authors, non-violence is successful political strategy because i) non-violent methods enhance domestic and international legitimacy, resulting in broader support and participation, and ii) regime violence against non-violent movement is more likely to backfire on the regime, particularly where this results in loyalty shifts from the regime .The evidence is being gathered, and women have been making their claims long enough. There are many taboos surrounding the questioning of cultures of violence and militarization, which have become the invisible norm. However, it is part of the feminist reality to ask uncomfortable questions and address society’s taboos. What is needed now, is the political courage and willingness to invest in critical and ground breaking approaches that are looking into transforming our peace and security paradigms altogether. This publication is a testimony to the increasing number of people-women and men-who are challenging the norms bestowed upon us. They are linking the dots and showing us how militarization is coming at us from many angles-including entering the private sphere through IT and financial services. This reality not only requires activists to enter new domains of work; it simultaneously urges us all to keep on pushing for a transformative agenda in all these spaces, if real peace and security is to have a chance.

Publisher: WPP
Year of Publication: 2014
Download : 19753_may-pack-2014-web.pdf