Description
Book SynopsisGender equality was established as a political objective in peace and security with the passing of UNSCR 1325 on WPS. Despite being perhaps the most critical concept to understand the ways in which UNSCR 1325 can bring about structural and real-life changes in peace and security, gender equality remained underexplored in international WPS research. Bridging epistemic siloes between International Relations and Gender Studies, this book teases out the complexity of gender equality in operation with the WPS agenda in nested case studies: UN Security Council at the global level, Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Pacific Islands Forum at the regional level, and Governments of the Philippines and Australia at the national level. The interrogation is guided by feminist, grounded methodology and draws on expert insights of nearly 70 UN, government, international and local civil society representatives. This book ultimately exposes multiple paradoxes embedded in gender equality politics of the WPS agenda, shedding light on opportunities and challenges for a meaningful change in peace and security at the intersection of the global and the local
Trade ReviewTrojanowska beautifully demonstrates the intellectual pay-off of pursuing a ‘feminist curiosity’ in this important contribution. This book is a must-read not only for those working on, and with, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, but also for anyone interested in gender equality initiatives in global governance more broadly. Trojanowska skilfully elaborates three paradigms of gender equality, linked to security, development, and human rights, and shows how each influences – and is also reproduced through – work on the agenda in Australia and the Philippines. Based on wide-ranging and meticulous empirical research, Trojanowska’s conclusions about the opportunities for, and obstacles to, enhancing gender equality through the Women, Peace and Security agenda are trenchant and have resonance far beyond the case studies she presents.
-- Laura J. Shepherd, The University of Sydney
This book makes an important contribution to the Women, Peace and Security literature. Barbara K. Trojanowska breaks new ground by showing how progress (and the lack thereof) on the WPS agenda is closely related to different conceptions of gender equality. Case studies of the deliberations at the UN Security Council, within ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum, in the Philippines and in Australia show how international actors shape the WPS agenda through expansive or restricted understandings of gender equality. This is a must-read for policymakers, scholars and activists.
-- Dr. Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, Fellow, Wilson Center; former President of Women In International Security (WIIS)
This book ably demonstrates the importance of listening to women’s views on the impact of inequality in contexts of insecurity. It shows why gender equality must have tangible ways to further peace and security. Scholars and practitioners concerned with the WPS agenda will benefit from the inspiring findings of this book.
-- Elisabeth Porter, University of South Australia
In this book, author Barbara K. Trojanowska takes a broad interdisciplinary look at the women, peace, and security agenda and situates it within the larger issue of gender equality. Through in-depth case studies and interviews, the author draws on a range of voices to arrive at what she calls three dominant paradigms of gender equality. The result is an analysis that goes far beyond traditional understanding of the women, peace, and security agenda tied to UNSCR 1325 to address the transformational structural changes that need to happen if women are truly to be equal participants in the conversation about peace and security.
-- Joyce P. Kaufman, Whittier College
In a world where the international goal of gender equality is facing increasing backlash, Finding Gender Equality in the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda is essential reading. Trojanowska’s empirically rich, intersectional analysis will challenge your understanding of gender equality itself and demand attention to the messy international politics of promoting it.
-- David Duriesmith, University of Sheffield
Table of ContentsForeword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction: The Goal of Gender Equality in Peace and Security
Dilemmas of Gender Equality Policymaking
The Trajectory of Gender Equality
Paradigms of Gender Equality in The Women, Peace and Security Agenda
Global, Regional and National Perspectives
Empirically-Driven Research
Chapter 1: The United Nations Security Council
Gender Equality in the UN’s Peace and Security Discourse
UNSCR 1325 and the Vision of Gender Equality
The Emergence of Paradigms of Gender Equality
The Security Paradigm
The Development Paradigm
The Human Rights Paradigm
Post-2015 Resistance to Gender Equality
Conclusions
Chapter 2: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum
The Role of Regional Organisations in Implementing UNSCR 1325
The Engagement of Asia and the Pacific with the Women, Peace and Security Agenda
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Pacific Islands Forum
Conclusions
Chapter 3: Government of the Philippines
The Women, Peace and Security Agenda and Armed Conflicts in the Philippines
National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security
Government’s Implementation of the National Action Plans
Conclusions
Chapter 4: Government of Australia
The Women, Peace and Security Agenda and Australia’s International Reputation
National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security
Government’s Implementation of the National Action Plan
Conclusions
Conclusions: Transformative Politics of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda
No Universal Goal of Gender Equality
Implications of Paradigms of Gender Equality
Gender Equality at the Juncture of Global, Regional and National Governance
Connecting Policy Objectives with Lived Experience
Bibliography
Index
