ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the feminization of peace to changes in present-day conflicts that are related to globalization. It elaborates the triangular relations between globalization, gender and conflict, and describes the emergence of a global discourse on the feminization of peace that was particularly pronounced during the Beijing women conference in 1995. The chapter addresses the question of how this global discourse works in local peace-building practices. The international interest in the problems experienced by women in situations of armed conflict snowballed when it came out that many women were raped in Bosnia in 1992. The success of the international discourse on women and peace building can partly be explained by geo-political trends. Policies and statements attributing peace-building qualities to women never ignore the fact that the women’s capacity may reach all levels of political decision-making, but is in practice particularly associated with grass roots initiatives.
