1st Edition
The Search for Lasting Peace Critical Perspectives on Gender-Responsive Human Security
Presenting the human security agenda as a policy response to the changing nature of violent conflicts and war, this collection traces its evolution in relation to conflicts in different contexts (Burma, India, Palestine, Canada, East Timor, Guatemala, Peru and African countries) and from the perspective of gender, addresses initiatives for peace with justice. Cases are analysed when the human security agenda, including UNSC resolution 1325, was in its initial phase and point to both the weakness of the concept and the unexpected direction it has taken. These discussions - always relevant - are more urgent than ever as gender-based violence against women has increased, resulting in new UNSC resolutions. Some chapters suggest that militarism and economic globalization must be directly confronted. Many of the contributors to the volume bridge the gap between academic research and activism as ’scholar-activists’ with an engaged connection to the situations they are describing. Human security remains an active component of policy and academic debates in security studies, women’s and gender studies, development studies, history and political economy as well as within NGO communities. This rich collection fills a needed gap in the literature and it does so in a language and style that is clear, accessible and reader-friendly.
Biography
Rosalind Boyd is an independent researcher, writer and lecturer based in Montreal and affiliated with McGill University since 1968. She was formerly (the only woman) Director of McGill’s Centre for Developing-Area Studies (CDAS), Director/principal investigator of the CDAS program on Gender and Human Security, Special Advisor on International Research to McGill’s Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations) and founding Editor of the journal Labour, Capital and Society. Her research and publications focus primarily on conflict situations and also on gender, labour, globalization, human rights, migration, refugees, democracy and environmental health. She has a doctorate of philosophy (PhD in Humanities) from Concordia University, Montreal and speaks English and French with some proficiency in Spanish, Urdu and Yoruba.
’Much has been written about gender and security, but no text available does the work of this impressive collection. Centring the writings of scholar-activists, some of the most challenging issues in global feminist politics and policy are identified and analysed, not least addressing notable contradictions and debates. The breadth of the material is impressive, but so is the theoretical nuance - all presented in a remarkably accessible manner.’ Abigail Bakan, University of Toronto, Canada ’The Search for Lasting Peace is an important contribution to the ongoing debates about peace as more than the absence of war, and to the many different contemporary gendered experiences of continuums of multi-layered conflicts and fragile peace. It is also an important scholarly contribution, as it actively seeks to mix academic contributions with reflections from the field. This mix of academic insight with real life experiences of conflict makes it a truly interesting read.’ Sari Kouvo, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium ’How might peace activists and politicians become better informed about the impact of the present Human Security agendas and their interpretations and applications, on women, their families and their networks? How might they promote a better understanding and strategies for greater equity and justice for all? How can they inform policy makers and therefore advocate for a new gender-responsive Human Security agenda and actions? For reframing these important questions and for the passionate voices of 12 excellent scholars in The Search for Lasting Peace, I recommend this book to everyone interested in working towards justice and peace for all, in a compassionate world.’ Arpi Hamalian, Concordia University, Canada 'The story illustrates not only the gendered nature of contemporary violence but also the inadequacy of global efforts to tackle widespread insecurity in large parts of the world. This book is a welcome effort to interrogate the idea of h
