Gender and New Wars

Abstract

This brief introduction to the special collection outlines the main features of new wars and discusses some of the conceptual thinking around gender in the context of new wars and how it relates to international frameworks, such as UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. It considers in particular different forms of women's participation and constructions of masculinities in new wars. This introduction argues that the binary narrative of gender has been damaging to both women and men and that the focus instead should be on understanding how subordinated populations are made vulnerable to the exercise and abuse of asymmetrical systems of power. To this end further academic research is urged.

Skirts as Flags: Transitional Justice, Gender and Everyday Nationalism in Kosovo

“…Despite the "context-specific natures of claims of justice" (Murphy, 2017, p. 6), the case study of Kosovo reflects the typical pattern of gender-based harm and the challenges of building gender-just peace after a civil war. Therefore, our findings reveal everyday dynamics of gendering nation building and contribute to the wider understanding of how the redress for wartime sexual violence perpetuates gender-insensitive peace (Chinkin & Kaldor, 2013).…”

A Critical Approach to the Efficacy of the Economic Development Strategy in Interethnic Conflict Prevention and Resolution

“…A large body of literature in both conflict studies and feminist studies has effectively reflected how gender -or more precisely, gender stereotypes -influence contemporary conflicts. Chinkin and Kaldor (2013) identify a dichotomous view of men and women in conflicts: in the popular perspective, men are the "protector[s]" and women are the "protected" (168). Common narratives depict men as more competent in combating (Annan, et al, 2011).…”

“…The exploitation of women's social reproduction also exposes women to heightened risks of violence. Conflict-time violence targeting non-combatant women is a common tactic that serves multiple purposes for belligerent groups (Chinkin & Kaldor, 2013). Firstly, as discussed, society perceives women to be the key to reproduction.…”

“…Unfortunately, for women on the combating posts, their presence in SoS conflicts is not a result from the falsification of the gender stereotypes, but rather, a different form of biases against women and exploitation of their reproductive capacity. Besides the perceived incapability of combating, the imposed social reproductive duties construct women's motherly image: they are weak, peaceful, and nurturing (Chinkin & Kaldor, 2013;Goldstein, 2001). Thus, admitting women to combating roles can effectively "shame"…”

“…Yet, despite the scale of migratory movement both by ethnicity and gender, extant literature still overly focuses on men (Liang & Chen, 2004). Current media, academic, and policy continues depicting the Uyghur-Han conflicts -like other SoS cases -as violence by men against men (Chinkin & Kaldor, 2013). For instance, a survey of past reports indicate that men are the majority of both the perpetrators and the victims ( CCTV News, 2013;Phoenix News, 2013;Volodzko, 2015; People's Daily International, 2009).…”