Feminist peace theory argues that peace cannot be understood only as the end of armed conflict. It examines how gendered power relations, inequality and violence affect people differently before, during and after conflict.
The Reasoning
It challenges state-centred approaches by examining everyday experiences and unequal social structures.
This connects directly to the IB Global Politics distinction between negative peace, meaning the absence of direct violence, and positive peace, meaning the presence of justice and conditions that address structural causes of violence.
| Dimension | Feminist interpretation |
|---|---|
| Direct violence | Includes battlefield violence, conflict-related sexual violence and domestic abuse. |
| Structural violence | Includes political, legal or economic arrangements that systematically disadvantage particular genders. |
| Cultural violence | Includes norms that legitimize domination, militarized masculinity or gender-based discrimination. |
| Peacebuilding | Requires meaningful participation by affected groups, not only elite agreements. |
For example, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted in October 2000, established the Women, Peace and Security agenda and called for women's participation in conflict prevention, negotiations and reconstruction.
Colombia’s 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia also included a gender perspective developed with input from a Gender Subcommission. Its provisions addressed the experiences of women and LGBTQ+ people, showing how peacebuilding can extend beyond disarmament to rights, participation and justice.
A common misconception is that feminist peace theory claims women are naturally more peaceful than men. Instead, it investigates how power, gender roles and institutions shape violence and whose experiences receive political recognition.
Exam Technique
For SL and HL responses on contested meanings of peace and conflict, define the perspective, connect it to positive peace and structural or cultural violence, then apply a specific contemporary case. Treat feminism as an analytical lens, not prescribed theory, and evaluate whether greater inclusion actually produces legitimate and sustainable peace.