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Can gender come to the rescue of foreign policy? : an exploration into the ways in which the (mis)understanding of gender influences the making of foreign policy

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper attempts to provide a broad theoretical background of the ways in which
gender has informed the making of foreign policy. It examines the various types of
feminism in the zo" century and how they complement each other, criticize each other
and have contributed to critical political debate. Realism as the dominant political
paradigm of the zo" century comes under scrutiny and it is shown how it abets and
supports male domination by cloaking it in neutral language and institutions that appear
neutral. Foreign policy objectives are often linked to the national interest, which in itself
is a problematic and contested concept. Foreign policy makers face new challenges today
as the political landscape changes, often driven by multinational corporations who dictate
the rules of political engagement. Not only has the international political arena changed
drastically in the zo" century, but so has the domestic arena. Studies in foreign policy
attitudes show marked differences along gender lines. Most studies focus on the pacifist
attitudes of women, but this paper goes on to show how gendered theories of security,
globalization, the environment and human rights could inform foreign policy makers and
others who shape foreign policy agendas. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis poog om 'n bree teoretiese agtergrond te skep van die wyses waarin gender
(geslag as 'n konstruksie) die skep van buitelandse beleid beinvloed. Dit bestudeer die
verskeie tipes feminisme in die 20ste eeu en hoe hulle mekaar komplimenteer, mekaar
kritiseer en bygedra het tot kritiese politieke debat. Realisme as die dominante paradigma
van die 20ste eeu word noukeurig bestudeer en daar word gewys hoe hierdie paradigma
manlike dominasie ondersteun deur dit te vermom in neutrale taal en instellings wat
neutraal voorkom. Buitelandse beleid word dikwels gekoppel aan die nasionale belang
wat op sigself 'n problematiese konsep is. Weens die veranderende internasionale
politieke arena staar makers van buitelandse beleid nuwe uitdagings in die gesig, veral
omdat multinasionale maatskappye dikwels die die reels van die spel bepaal. Studies toon
dat gevoelens en houdings oor spesifieke buitelandse beleidskwessies dikwels verskillend
vir mans en vrouens manifesteer. Meeste studies fokus op die ondersteuning van vrouens
van vrede in kontras met geweld en oorlog. Hierdie tesis gaan verder deur te wys hoe
'gendered' teoriee van sekuriteit, globalisering, die omgewing en menseregte moontlik
die skeppers van buitelandse beleid kan beinvloed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52725
Date12 1900
CreatorsMeyer, Christa
ContributorsGouws, A, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format66 pages
RightsStellenbosch University

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