Gender and Countering Violent Extremism in Women, Peace and Security National Action Plans

Citation:

Asante, Doris, and Laura J. Shepherd. 2020. "Gender and Countering Violent Extremism in Women, Peace and Security National Action Plans." European Journal of Politics and Gender. doi:10.1332/251510820X15854973578842.

Authors: Doris Asante, Laura J. Shepherd

Abstract:

Using discourse analysis, this research explores the representation of gender roles and identities in relation to counter-terrorism/countering violent extremism in 38 national action plans for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and associated United Nations Security Council resolutions. Representations of gender in relation to counter-terrorism/countering violent extremism in the national action plans that we analyse fix women in subordinate and passive subject positions while presuming that men are inherently violent and extremist. These findings have implications not only for scholarship on the Women, Peace and Security agenda, but also for policy practice in this area. Key messages WPS NAPs that discuss CT/CVE tend to represent women as inherently peaceful and men as inherently violent/’risky’. WPS NAPs that discuss CT/CVE predominantly position women in relation to local/informal politics and in need of capacity building to be able to participate in broader/formal CT/CVE activities.

Keywords: counter-terrorism, countering violent extremism, gender, peace, representation, security, women

Topics: Gender, Gender Roles, Terrorism, UN Security Council Resolutions on WPS, UNSCR 1325, Violence

Year: 2020