ABSTRACT
Political sociologist Johan Galtung observed that “the amateur who wants to dominate uses guns, the professional uses social structure.” Systemic patriarchies appear to be making a comeback in countries once thought bastions of liberalism. Chimps are the closest evolutionary relatives to humans, at a genetic level and regarding behavioral similarities. Demographics and technology both offer conditions that perpetuate the violent side of human nature. In evolutionary biology terms, male mating success is based on quantity whereas female mating success is based on quality, thus creating conflict between the sexes. Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) becomes evidenced in areas like hierarchy-legitimizing myths and policy preferences. SDO thereby provides the rationale necessary to justify otherwise unacceptable personal behavior, specifically sexism. While linkages between women’s empowerment and development, and development and security are clear, the linkage between all of them has yet to be fully recognized and accepted.
