Women, Peace, and Security

Catalog description

This course examines the role of women in global peace and security. Women have traditionally been excluded from armed conflict and have been left out of the decisions made at the negotiating table at the conclusion of war. But analytics suggest that by including women, societies become demonstrably more stable. Established frameworks such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, and the Women, Peace and Security Act, passed by Congress in 2017 create a launchpad for class discussion on how gender empowerment benefits society at large. The course looks at historical and cultural precedent. Case studies are used to illustrate how women have used a gendered viewpoint to force peaceful resolution of conflict. Students gain a working knowledge of the vocabulary of WPS, which is often mandated and funded in many government departments and NGOs.  The course examines the uneven successes in the quest for female influence in societies where women are extremely disadvantaged through cultural norms and laws. Teambuilding exercises are used to resolve conflict scenarios with consideration to women's rights and safety. Projects include designing post-conflict institutions that afford stability to the community.