Feminist Theory of International Relations (IR)
Feminist theory in International Relations (IR) emerged as a critique
of traditional IR theories, which were largely shaped by male-
dominated perspectives and often neglected the roles and experiences
of women and marginalised groups. Feminist IR challenges the
gendered assumptions in global politics and seeks to highlight how
gender shapes international relations, both in terms of the global
system and the individual experience.
Origins of Feminist IR Theory
Feminist contributions to International Relations are part of the
broader feminist movement that began in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, with major waves focusing on women's rights, suffrage, and
broader social reforms. The academic field of feminist IR emerged
more explicitly in the 1980s and 1990s, in response to the limitations
of mainstream IR theories—particularly realism, liberalism, and
Marxism, which often sidelined gender as a central category of
analysis.
Traditional IR theories were critiqued for being overly state-centric,
focusing on security, power, and warfare, without addressing the ways
in which global politics is shaped by gendered structures. For
example, realism, which emphasises the importance of military power
and state sovereignty, was seen as neglecting how gender relations
affect political decisions and global structures. Similarly, liberalism's
emphasis on human rights and international cooperation often
overlooked how gender inequalities were embedded in state policies
and global norms.
Feminist IR theorists argue that to understand international relations
fully, it is essential to account for gender as a social and political
force. They explore how international systems, institutions, and
practices contribute to the oppression or empowerment of women and
other marginalised groups. The goal is not just to add women into the
existing frameworks but to rethink the very nature of global politics.
Key Thinkers in Feminist IR
1. J. Ann Tickner
One of the foundational figures in feminist IR is J. Ann Tickner. Her
groundbreaking work, particularly in her book Gender in International
Relations: Feminist Perspectives on Achieving Global Security
(1992), critiques traditional IR theories and highlights how gender has
been largely absent in the analysis of global politics.
Tickner argues that traditional theories, such as realism, have a
masculine bias, as they emphasize traits like power, competition, and
security, which align with stereotypical male characteristics. She
advocates for a more inclusive approach that considers how
international relations affect both women and men differently, and
how gendered structures shape international outcomes.
2. Cynthia Enloe:
Cynthia Enloe's work is central to feminist IR, particularly her book
Bananas, Beaches, and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International
Politics (1989). Enloe focuses on the often-overlooked roles that
women play in international relations, such as in military bases, as
workers in global industries, and in the everyday practices that sustain
international structures. She emphasizes the importance of "taking
women seriously" in global politics and how the personal is political.
Her approach to feminist IR is heavily empirical, emphasizing case
studies to reveal how gender operates in international relations in
ways that are often hidden or neglected.
3. V. Spike Peterson
V. Spike Peterson is another influential figure in feminist IR.
Peterson critiques both the mainstream theories of IR and traditional
feminist approaches, arguing for an intersectional analysis that
includes gender, race, class, and other axes of identity. She stresses
that international politics cannot be understood without recognizing
how gender intersects with other social hierarchies in shaping global
inequalities.
4. Chandra Talpade Mohanty
Chandra Talpade Mohanty (known for her work on postcolonial
feminism) have contributed to feminist thought by critiquing the
Western, Eurocentric focus of much feminist scholarship. Their work
emphasizes the importance of considering global power dynamics,
colonial histories, and the diverse experiences of women in different
parts of the world. Their contributions have broadened the scope of
feminist IR by adding a postcolonial and global South perspective.
5. R. Charli Carpenter:
Carpenter’s work focuses on the role of gender in issues like
humanitarian intervention, international norms, and the protection of
women in conflict zones. She explores how international norms are
shaped by gendered discourses and the ways in which women’s
experiences are often sidelined in the formation of international laws
and policies.
Key Concepts in Feminist IR
Feminist IR brings several important concepts to the study of
international relations:
Gendered Analysis
Feminist IR theorists argue that gender shapes power relations in
international politics. This means analyzing not only the roles that
women play in global politics but also how the international system
itself is gendered. For example, security concerns are often defined in
masculine terms, while women’s experiences of insecurity (e.g.,
violence, displacement, etc.) are not always recognized as central to
international security debates.
Intersectionality
Building on the work of scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw, feminist IR
emphasizes the need to examine how gender intersects with other
factors, such as race, class, and ethnicity. Intersectionality recognizes
that the experiences of women in international relations are not
homogenous but are shaped by multiple, overlapping forms of
discrimination and privilege.
The Politics of Representation:
Feminist scholars also focus on how women and marginalized groups
are represented (or not represented) in international institutions, such
as the United Nations, in peace negotiations, or in diplomatic spaces.
The politics of representation involves questioning whose voices are
heard and whose are silenced in global governance.
Security and Militarisation:
Feminist scholars challenge the traditional focus on state security and
military power by emphasizing the insecurities that women face
globally, such as gender-based violence, human trafficking, and the
impact of war on civilian populations. They also critique the
militarization of global politics and explore how it affects women in
conflict zones.
Conclusion
Feminist Theory in International Relations challenges the traditional
paradigms of IR by highlighting the importance of gender in shaping
global politics. By centering women’s experiences and challenging
male-centric views of power, security, and authority, feminist IR offers
a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of the world. Its origins
in the feminist movement and the contributions of key scholars like J.
Ann Tickner, Cynthia Enloe, and others have paved the way for a
broader, more intersectional analysis of international relations that
acknowledges the complexity of global power structures and the roles
that gender, race, and class play in shaping them.
