ABSTRACT

Researching War provides a unique overview of varied feminist contributions to the study of war through case studies from around the world. Written by well-respected scholars, each chapter explicitly showcases the role of feminist methodological, ethical and political commitments in the research process.

Designed to be useful for teaching also, the book provides insight into feminist research practices for students and scholars wanting to further their understanding what it means to study war (and other issues) from a feminist perspective. To this end, every author follows a four-part structure in the presentation of their case study: outlining a research puzzle, explaining the chosen approach, describing the findings and, finally, offering a reflection on the feminist commitments that guided the research.

This book:

  • Provides a multi-disciplinary perspective on war by drawing on disciplines such as anthropology, history, literature, peace research, postcolonial theory, queer studies, security studies, and women’s studies; 
  • Showcases a multiplicity of experiences with war and violence, emphasizing everyday experiences of war and violence with accounts from around the world;
  • Challenges stereotypical accounts of women, violence, and war by pointing to contradictions and unexpected continuities as well as unexpected findings made possible by adopting a feminist perspective;
  • Teases out linkages between various forms of political violence (against women, but increasingly also by women);
  • Discusses theoretical and methodological innovation in feminist research on war.

This book will be essential reading for advanced students and scholars of Security Studies, Gender and Conflict, Women and War, Feminist International Relations and Research Methods.

part I|124 pages

In Wars

chapter 1|19 pages

Chechen political violence as desperation

What feminist discourse analysis reveals

chapter 2|19 pages

Women and the matrix of violence

A study of the Maoist insurgency in India

chapter 3|19 pages

Female Engagement Teams in Afghanistan

Exploring the ‘War on Terror' narrative

part II|61 pages

After Wars

chapter 7|20 pages

Tracing women's rights after genocide

The case of Rwanda

chapter 8|22 pages

‘Doing no harm'

Methodological and ethical challenges of working with women associated with fighting forces/ex-combatants in Liberia

part III|56 pages

Everyday Wars

chapter 10|17 pages

Studying gender in protracted conflicts

Israeli women's lives in quantitative methods

chapter 11|17 pages

Studying ethical action competence and mindful action from feminist perspectives

The case of Nordic female police officers in Kosovo

chapter |2 pages

Afterword

Being Reflexively Feminist Shouldn't Be Easy