This course is structured to develop students’ capacity to understand the central place of gender in the international governance system. It opens with the discussion of the conceptual imperatives regarding gender and feminism and how they intersect with international relations. It further searches through some theoretical debates relating to feminist international relations theory, feminist security studies and feminist methodologies in research. It examines men and women’s experiences with the international governance apparatus. To this end, it analyzes the central theoretical concerns and empirical data on a wide range of gender issues that have dominated international policy agenda such as the Beijing Platform and the political quota system, among others. It devotes special attention to examination of the dynamics of gender-based violence, gender-diplomacy, gender and political participation, gender and the global economy, gender and human rights, and gender and the environment. The discussions of these imperatives are supported by detailed illustrations of cases from Africa and other developing countries in order to expose the challenges that continue to obstruct women’s freedom and access to political and economic resources. The mode of instruction is lecturer-led and students’ seminar presentations with documentary video-shows to foster students’ active participation and understanding. When students have completed the course, they would become gender advocates and contribute to the campaign against gender discrimination.
LEGON CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DIPLOMACY.
