Gender, Governance and International Security

'Gender, Governance and Security offers a timely and ethically relevant collection of essays that all critically engage with the virtues and shortcomings of United Nations (UN) Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Pratt and Richter-Devroe and their contributors raise very important ethical questions regarding the universal applicability of 1325 and critically take on board the essentialist discourses and practices that surround the resolution and as such helping to deconstruct the protection myth that underpins so much of international relations scholarship. The book is an indispensible contribution to debates about the lack of intersectional awareness amongst policy-makers charged with the task of furthering women’s peace and security in international society. It offers telling feminist insights into the misuse of 1325 to justify, amongst other things, military intervention and brute force more generally.' - Annika Bergman Rosamond, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Lund University, Sweden.

'This remarkable collection offers a timely opportunity to engage and reflect upon the impact of SC Resolution 1325 some 10+ years after its adoption. Lauded as one of the most important accomplishments concerning women, peace and security at the UN while simultaneously drawing sharp criticisms from feminist activists and academics alike, this volume captures the contours of that debate with nuance and sophistication in both theoretical and empirical terms. It is a must read for anyone interested in questions of gender, governance and security.' - Sandra Whitworth, Professor of Political Science, York University, Former Editor, International Feminist Journal of Politics

'The Women, Peace and Security agenda began in the United Nations Security Council with Resolution 1325 but has since fanned out across the world to UN peacekeeping missions in conflict, post conflict and non-conflict member states. It portends to make the participation of women in peace processes, the prevention of conflict and protection against gender-based and sexual violence central to international security policymaking. That has not happened even after a decade of ‘gender mainstreaming’ efforts. Gender, Governance and International Security explains why – interrogating the assumptions and the practices promoted by UNSCR 1325 at the highest level and on the ground in conflict and post-conflict settings. It demonstrates that feminist research and transnational activism are needed more than ever not just to hold states to account but to transform a problematic resolution into a critical engagement with the gendered nature of security politics.' - Professor Jacqui True, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University, Australia