Description
Over the past decade years there has been a rapid growth in programs which attempt to shift notions of masculinity in conflict-affected societies. These initiatives commonly focus on shifting norms which associate masculinity with violence, strength or dominance in order to forge durable peace. Such efforts often framing their involvement in relation to health promotion, community wellbeing or development, positioning change around individual transformation. This paper explores the interplay between gendered norms and structural incentives which shape enduring militarisation.
To do this it explores the results of fieldwork in Fiji and Aceh (Indonesia) conducted in 2018 and 2019 to interrogate how interventions branded ‘gender transformative’ were constrained compared to peace efforts which were gender-insensitive. Focusing on political economy, foreign policy, and civic structures the paper explores the interplay between persistent patriarchal and militaristic norms, and the structural forces which shape them. From this, it presents the case that more structurally significant interventions in Aceh and Fiji would have been possible, but would have required broader engagement across elements of the peace-industrial complex. The paper concludes by considering what three potential areas of work which could better address the incentives and disincentives that promote violent masculinities during peace initiatives.
