ABSTRACT

This chapter begins with the significant contributions of feminist International Relations (IR) scholars to theorizing the continuum of violence. IR feminists explore broader and alternative meanings to peace and security that challenge the traditionally state-centric, top-down, and militarized notions of security in mainstream IR. The chapter identifies how violence occurs in layers drawing attention to the mutual constitution of insecurities occurring at household, community, state, and global levels. It aims to use the term layers rather than sites of violence to emphasize the ways by which global processes directly and indirectly enable violence at subnational levels, and vice versa. The chapter examines the equal importance of and interconnections across different forms of violence as physical, structural, and symbolic harms. It demonstrates how inclusive and lasting peace demands that authors bridge the gaps in attention and resource allocation between immediate or emergency humanitarian assistance and long-term socio-economic development for crisis situations.