Plan for Today: Concluding Feminism & Introduction to Human Rights 1. Critiques of feminist theory. 2. Evaluating feminism as IR theory. 3. Identifying overlaps with other approaches. 4. Understanding definition and development of human rights.

Criticisms of Feminist Theory 1. Feminists essentialize (and thereby reify) women’s roles. Are women really more peaceful than men? Are women really more peaceful than men?

Men vs. Women on War Conditions for war against Iraq AllMenWomen US should do whatever it must to protect the Free World US should only go to war with the support of the UN US should not go to war unless we are attacked first Don't know Refused Source: Survey & Policy Research Institute, San Jose, Cal., Sept. 2002

Criticisms of Feminist Theory 1. Feminists essentialize (and thereby reify) women’s roles. Are women really more peaceful than men? Are women really more peaceful than men? Do women really have a more nurturing, caring view of nature/ environment? Do women really have a more nurturing, caring view of nature/ environment?

Men vs. Women on Environment 2000 Finnish government survey (2500 people): 2000 Finnish government survey (2500 people): 50% of women and 38% of men ready to pay higher prices for environmentally friendly products. 50% of women and 38% of men ready to pay higher prices for environmentally friendly products British survey by UKRC (1000 people): 2007 British survey by UKRC (1000 people): 86% of women and 76% of men “extremely” or “somewhat” concerned about global warming. 86% of women and 76% of men “extremely” or “somewhat” concerned about global warming.

Criticisms of Feminist Theory 1. Feminists essentialize (and thereby reify) women’s roles. Are women really more peaceful than men? Are women really more peaceful than men? Do women really have a more nurturing, caring view of nature/ environment? Do women really have a more nurturing, caring view of nature/ environment? Most feminists argue these differences socially constructed; some argue biological. Most feminists argue these differences socially constructed; some argue biological.

Criticisms of Feminist Theory 2. Feminists should look more at constructed masculinity and not just focus on women. (Adam Jones) E.g. How masculinity constructed in military service. E.g. How masculinity constructed in military service.

Criticisms of Feminist Theory 3. Feminists ignore consequences of international politics on men. Imply that effects worse for women, when probably only different. Imply that effects worse for women, when probably only different. Feminist response: Effects on women ignored until recently. Feminist response: Effects on women ignored until recently.

Criticisms of Feminist Theory 4. Feminists are rich, white, Western women who have ignored poor, non- white, non-Western women’s problems. Feminist response: More nuanced feminist perspectives have emerged in recent decades. Feminist response: More nuanced feminist perspectives have emerged in recent decades.

Evaluating Feminist IR Theory Explanatory Power Provides thorough alternative explanation for why governments focus on certain issues: not anarchy but pervasive male ideas. Provides thorough alternative explanation for why governments focus on certain issues: not anarchy but pervasive male ideas. More focused on explaining why women’s concerns excluded than explaining/ predicting specific international outcomes. More focused on explaining why women’s concerns excluded than explaining/ predicting specific international outcomes. Many feminists reject goal of general explanatory theory. Many feminists reject goal of general explanatory theory.

Evaluating Feminist IR Theory Intellectual Consistency & Coherence Fairly coherent paradigm: easily identifiable and presents united front against other theories. Fairly coherent paradigm: easily identifiable and presents united front against other theories. But many internal debates: But many internal debates: Gender differences nature or nurture? Gender differences nature or nurture? Inclusion in or destruction of existing structures? Inclusion in or destruction of existing structures? What is ideal women’s development? What is ideal women’s development?

Evaluating Feminist IR Theory Scope Very broad: gender is everywhere! Very broad: gender is everywhere! Both systemic IR critiques and specific consequences of international politics. Both systemic IR critiques and specific consequences of international politics.

Evaluating Feminist IR Theory Self-reflection and intellectual engagement Self-reflection: Excellent, as most critical theories. Self-reflection: Excellent, as most critical theories. Intellectual engagement with other theories: Not great. Intellectual engagement with other theories: Not great. Often harsh rejection of other theorists who try to understand feminism. Often harsh rejection of other theorists who try to understand feminism.

Theoretical Overlaps 1. Constructivism: Constructed roles & identities. Constructed roles & identities. Radical constructivists & feminists: rejection of universal theory. Radical constructivists & feminists: rejection of universal theory. 2. Marxism (and Postcolonial theory): Systematic oppression and ways to liberation. Systematic oppression and ways to liberation. Often critique of capitalism in analysis of globalization & development. Often critique of capitalism in analysis of globalization & development.

Brief Overview of Human Rights Definition: Definition: “A set of principled ideas about the treatment to which all individuals are entitled by virtue of being human.” (Schmitz & Sikkink) “A set of principled ideas about the treatment to which all individuals are entitled by virtue of being human.” (Schmitz & Sikkink) Human Rights

Brief Overview of Human Rights Concept within democratic states dates to 17 th -18 th -century. Concept within democratic states dates to 17 th -18 th -century. Natural rights of man. Natural rights of man. French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (1789) French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (1789) US Bill of Rights (1791) US Bill of Rights (1791) 19th-century political reforms: slavery, education, suffrage. 19th-century political reforms: slavery, education, suffrage.

Brief Overview of Human Rights Concept of human rights in IR only since WWII. Concept of human rights in IR only since WWII. Duties of international community to protect human rights of individuals everywhere. Duties of international community to protect human rights of individuals everywhere. E.g. recent concept of “human security”. E.g. recent concept of “human security”.

Brief Overview of Human Rights 1st formal statement: UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). 1st formal statement: UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Move to stronger “teeth”: Helsinki Final Act (1975) – bound Soviet bloc states. Move to stronger “teeth”: Helsinki Final Act (1975) – bound Soviet bloc states.

Recent Trends in Human Rights Increased ratification: Increased ratification: 1975: 33 countries had ratified UN International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (23% of UN members). 1975: 33 countries had ratified UN International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (23% of UN members). 2001: 147 countries had ratified ICCPR (76% of UN members). 2001: 147 countries had ratified ICCPR (76% of UN members).

Recent Trends in Human Rights Increased enforcement capabilities across state borders, role of nonstate actors: Increased enforcement capabilities across state borders, role of nonstate actors: Rome Statute of International Criminal Court (ICC) – into force July Rome Statute of International Criminal Court (ICC) – into force July European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) – permanent court since European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) – permanent court since 1998.