Review of a book: Pursuing Harmony with Fair Chances
In a significant contribution to the field of conflict and peace studies, Sabrina Karim and Kyle Beardsley's book, "Equal Opportunity Peacekeeping: Women, Peace, and Security in Post-Conflict States," published by Oxford University Press in 2017, has been recognised as exceptional and globally distinguished research.
The book adopts a feminist methodology, aiming to shed light on the less-heard voices in peacekeeping operations, particularly those of women involved in the missions and locals affected by the work of these forces. It challenges gender dichotomies in military, police, and peacekeeping institutions, and explores successes and failures of international reforms in the area of women, peace, and security, theorizing about the root of the problems and proposing solutions.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part deals with history and theory, tracing the evolution of the agenda on women, peace, and security from its beginnings to its institutionalization with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions. The second part consists of chapters 4 and 5, and analyzes challenges in peacekeeping missions authorized by the United Nations Security Council, using an international comparative study. The third part, co-authored with Robert Blair and Michael Gilligan, consists of chapters 6 and 7 and focuses on a case study of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
Employing multiple methods, including quantitative methods, experiments with the Liberian National Police, surveys of local communities, and interviews, the authors illustrate their arguments and conclusions. The book shows advances in representation, with the increase in women's participation in military and police bodies, as well as the implementation of gender quotas in countries where peacekeeping operations are working. However, it also reveals timid progress in reducing exploitation, abuse, harassment, and sexual violence, a persistent problem.
The authors propose a holistic approach called "equal opportunity peacekeeping" (EOP), which aims for women and men to enjoy the same rights and opportunities in all sectors of society. They also evaluate the extent to which the Multidimensional Peacekeeping Operations (MPIO) and other proposed mechanisms contribute to improving the situation in peacekeeping missions.
Despite the Nobel Peace Prize not being awarded in 2017 specifically in the category "Equal Opportunity Peacekeeping: Women, Peace, and Security in Post-Conflict States," this book undoubtedly makes a significant contribution to the ongoing discourse on gender equality in conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts.
The book is published in CIDOB Affairs International Journal, no. 117, with ISSN: 1133-6595 | E-ISSN: 2013-035X and DOI: doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2017.117.3.223. With 277 pages, "Equal Opportunity Peacekeeping" is a comprehensive and insightful read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of peacekeeping operations and the role of gender in conflict resolution.
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