Theories of IR: Feminist Perspective

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Questions and Answers

What historical event contributed to the emergence of feminist IR theories in the late 1980s?

The establishment of the United Nations

The rise of globalization

The Women's Liberation Movement

The end of the Cold War (correct)

Which methodological approach is commonly associated with feminist IR scholarship?

Realism

Behaviorism

Constructivism

Deconstructivism (correct)

What do feminist IR thinkers claim about women's representation in mainstream IR research?

Women are largely ignored by mainstream IR research. (correct)

Women's experiences are frequently included.

Women are adequately represented.

Women are prioritized in IR studies.

According to feminist IR theorists, how do conventional concepts in IR reflect gender?

They embody patriarchal divisions between public and private spheres. Signup and view all the answers

How do feminist theorists view the traditional study of IR?

As reflecting a malestream perspective that marginalizes women. Signup and view all the answers

What criticisms do feminist writers have regarding the focus of IR on high politics?

It ignores women's contributions to diplomacy. Signup and view all the answers

What limitation do feminist IR theorists identify in the malestream IR thinking?

It fails to account for gender relations. Signup and view all the answers

In feminist IR theory, what do the concepts of power and sovereignty reflect?

A patriarchal division impacting public and private spheres. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key critique of traditional IR theories from a feminist perspective?

They separate the notions of public and private spheres. Signup and view all the answers

How do feminist theorists conceptualize power in international relations?

As a male-centered notion linked to autonomy. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of feminism emphasizes the inclusion of women in power structures?

Liberal feminism Signup and view all the answers

What do feminist IR theorists argue about the traditional understanding of security?

It should include personal safety and social threats. Signup and view all the answers

In feminist IR theory, how are men and women often characterized in relation to political roles?

Men are viewed as bringers of order, while women are associated with anarchy. Signup and view all the answers

What perspective do feminist theorists offer regarding international cooperation?

It is primarily a means to an end for realism. Signup and view all the answers

What do feminist IR theorists highlight as a limitation of the rationality concept in traditional theories?

It detaches emotions from political decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of gender dynamics do some gender theorists associate with the state?

The state reinforces narrow versions of gender identities. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key distinction made by feminist IR theories compared to conventional IR theories?

Focus on gender relations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately reflects a principle of feminist IR theory?

There are multiple feminist approaches to gender in international relations. Signup and view all the answers

In feminist IR theory, how are core concepts like war and security perceived?

As gendered concepts. Signup and view all the answers

Which feminist thinker wrote 'Gender in International Relations: Feminist Perspectives on Achieving Global Security'?

Ann Tickner Signup and view all the answers

What do feminist IR theories argue contributes to gender subordination?

Socially constructed gender hierarchies. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect is emphasized by feminist IR regarding the global political economy?

How gender shapes the political economy. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is NOT true about feminist IR theory?

Feminist IR denies the importance of military factors. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following topics is generally excluded from feminist IR analysis?

The influence of state diplomacy. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture on Feminist Theory of IR

Course: Theories of IR
University: University of Sharjah
Fall: 2024-2025
Instructor: M. Moniruzzaman

Outline

Basic Principles
Origins of Feminism
Women in IR
Logic of Feminist IR theory
Key IR Concepts from Feminist Perspective
Types of Feminist Theory
Main Points

Feminist IR Theory: Basic Points

Gender approaches in IR and integration studies consider the "fairer sex" in theory.
Feminism emerges from the experience of political struggle.
There are multiple approaches to gender studies in international relations, often overlapping or contradictory.
Gender relates not only to women but also how international policies are framed, studied, and implemented.

Conventional IR vs. Feminist IR

Conventional IR relies on generalized rationalist explanations of asocial states' behavior in an anarchic international system.
Feminist IR theories focus on social relations, particularly gender relations, instead of anarchy.
Feminist theorists view the international system as constituted by gender hierarchies which contribute to gender subordination.

Main Thinkers and Works

Cynthia Enloe: Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics
Jean Bethke Elshtain: Women and War
Ann Tickner: Gender in International Relations: Feminist Perspectives on Achieving Global Security
V. Spike Peterson and Anne Sisson Runyan: Global Gender Issues: Dilemma in World Politics (1993)
Christine Sylvester: Feminist Theory and International Relations in a Postmodern Era
Sandra Whitworth: Feminism and International Relations (1994)
Jill Steans: Gender and International Relations: An Introduction

Feminist IR Worldview

International relations affect and are affected by both men and women.
Core IR concepts (war, security, etc.) are gendered.
Feminist IR emphasizes the importance of considering how gender shapes the global political economy.
There is no clear division between feminists working in IR and those working in IPE.

Origins of Feminist IR Theories

Feminist IR emerged in the late 1980s and onwards.
The end of the Cold War and re-evaluation of traditional IR theory during the 1990s facilitated the gendering of international relations.
Feminist IR scholarship aims to problematize the politics of knowledge construction in international relations, often employing postmodernism/poststructuralism and deconstructivism.
Feminist and women-centric approaches within international policy communities are rooted in liberal feminist emphasis on equality of opportunity for women.

Women in IR (and Politics)

Mainstream IR research often ignores women.
Women's lives and experiences, and female scholars, are excluded from IR thinking and theorizing.
Current IR research offers a partial perspective (malestream).
Thinking of IR only as high politics (war) overlooks the degree to which diplomacy involves women's interventions.

Logics of Feminist IR Theory

Key concepts of IR theory are gendered.
IR studies are not neutral, reflecting power, sovereignty, anarchy, and security within a patriarchal structure that separates public and private spheres.
Male experiences dominate the public sphere, while female experiences are often relegated to the private sphere, thus undervalued in IR.
IR excludes and marginalizes women due to gender-specific assumptions and the dominance of men's perspectives.

Further Insights on Feminist IR

Feminist IR theorists criticize how malestream IR theories fail to adequately account for change and continuity in global politics owing to their gendered biases.
A key aspect of feminist IR is rejecting the separation between domestic and 'international' politics, instead emphasizing their interdependence.
Attempts to exclude domestic or private spheres from IR thinking reflect gendered hierarchies.

Key Concepts in Feminist IR

Realism and Liberalism view people as rational actors, often ignoring gendered interactions prevalent in the particular context of a society.
Men are associated with the public realm (order), and women are associated with the private sphere (anarchy).
States can be seen as reflections of gendered power that normalizes gendered identities in society.

Power, Rationality and Security in Feminist IR

Power in feminist IR is not simply "power over", but how rules of the game shape interactions and outcomes.
International cooperation/collaboration often serves as a means to an end, disconnected from genuine shared interests, according to Feminist IR theory.
Security in feminist IR is not just focused on state security, but includes vulnerabilities of individuals (violence, poverty, gender inequality, ecological degradation, war).

Types of Feminist Theory

Liberal feminism seeks the same rights for women as men, focusing on women's roles in international politics.
Marxist/socialist feminism examines oppression of women through the lens of capitalism and patriarchy.
Critical feminism analyzes the ideas that men/women attach to their relationships and the roots of these ideas.
Postcolonial feminism critiques the domination of westernized feminism.

Conclusions

Gender is a social issue, not biological.
Feminist IR resists fixed elements (like anarchy) in IR theory.
Feminist IR recognizes the potential for change in global politics. Women are viewed as peace-loving and gentle.

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Description

This quiz explores the fundamental principles and key concepts of Feminist Theory in International Relations (IR). It covers the origins of feminism, the role of women in IR, and contrasts traditional IR theories with feminist approaches. Test your understanding of these critical ideas and their implications in global politics.