Feminism in International Relations - Assignment Example

Methods in IR Task: Methods in IR The emergence of feminism in international relations research is a relatively recent development in social scientific inquiry. Contrary to its prior rare approach, feminism received a serious establishment. Most scholars started to undertake the approach of feminism as a methodology in international relations research. The theory of gender in international relations began after a long time of the highly gender-blind methodology in international relations research. Even feminist scholars disregarded the theory of gender in their research. In as much as feminist methodology in international relations research have had low progress, in the past, its inclusion in international relations research was of plausible significance. Power relations are dependent on diverse perspectives including feminist research methods. Feminist methodologies are significant in determining the ontology and epistemology of critical social thinking. This research seeks to address the extent to which Selimovic et al (2012) applie the question of feminist methodology in their research. How does Selimovic et al (2012) use feminist methodology to depict the skills of critical social scientific reasoning in their research? Social research plays a vital and central role in improving the academic field of political science. Research is an academic investigation in a field of knowledge of a researcher’s interest. A research aims at creating a solution to the identified hypothesis. The validity of a hypothesis formulated in the field of international relations is verifiable using qualitative research. It involves a through, comprehensive and structured inquiry using qualitative research methods. The integration of the diverse research methods is of valuable importance in conducting social research. International relations topics are among the diverse social research topics in political research. A well-conducted research in international relations applies impartial reasoning skills, based on premises use research methods. Selimovic et al (2012) use valid qualitative research methods to address the role of women in instilling peace in countries and regions experiencing war and violence. The development of the academic discipline in international relations started notably after the Second World War. Most countries adopted initiatives to enhance the development of research in international relations. America was among the countries that contributed highly in the development of research in international relations after the end of the war (Jackson & Srensen 2007, p.40). The rising number of research conducted in international relations continued to adopt precise methodological approaches including that undertaken by Selimovic et al (2012). International relations refer to diverse ways that define the interaction of diverse people in different places and countries in the world. As study, international relations entail the academic inquiry process that involves scholarly exploration and scrutiny of several factors affecting the harmonious existence between diverse parts of the world. The discipline emerged in 1919 with an objective to achieve a peaceful society among world nations. Throughout its existence, as a discipline, divergent theories, some are contradictory on related concerns or topics. The contradiction forms a key source of conflict among international relations scholars. The research by Selimovic et al (2012) addresses diverse concerns that act as constraints against the participation of women in attaining peace in regions where. The inclusion of women in the process of attaining peace is vital and of critical significance. According to Selimovic et al (2012, p.12), women have an enormous contribution in the process of peace restoration in places struck by violence. According to Selimovic et al (2012, p.9), the alienation of women in peacekeeping prompted the adoption of the UNSC resolution 1325 that acknowledged women’s involvement in the process aimed at restoring peace. The resolution acknowledges the central role of the female gender in helping eliminate violence in affected areas and locations of the world. Peace building processes must include equal participation of both men and women. Since the acceptance of the resolution in 2000, its implementation continues to draw concerns over the increased seclusion of women from peacemaking processes. The lack of the gender perspective in the appointment of peacekeeping delegations remains a grand concern. Noteworthy is that this is a threat towards human rights and the entitlement of the interests of women to a peaceful environment. Although there is a trend of evident response from women to counter such challenges, mostly experienced in the west, there are challenges against their efforts to ensure their involvement in peacemaking processes Selimovic et al (2012, p.5),. The research outlines some of the challenges that bar women from full involvement in attaining peace. It creates the awareness that promotion of peace is a cause that is dependent on the extent of inclusion of both men and women. Research methodology refers to the systematic way of identifying a research thesis. It entails an inevitable requirement for any research activity conducted. According to (Halperin & Heath 2012, p.144), a detailed research provides an inclusive analysis of the hypothesis. A hypothesis consists of different variables that may be independent of dependent. The development of a research hypothesis and choice of research methods to employ in a research depends on how best a researcher employs the skills of methodology. It is noteworthy that research methodology attributes a broad sense of the explaining the logic behind the choice of a given research method employed used. Research methodology refers explaining the reasons behind the choice of a data analysis technique in any research conducted. Halperin and Heath (2012, p.87) identify three methods that are invaluable when undertaking social research. Ontology refers to a detailed description of facts concerning a research problem. Mahoney & Rueschemeyer 2003, p.374, define concept of ontology in social research as the theoretical creation of scientific assumptions about the social world. It entails the vivid description of every single topic of a research topic to create a knowledge base that helps justify the research objectives. It is the theory of being, existence and formation that builds up the entire research topic. Ontology, in research, brings out the reality evident in a research subject as endorsed by science and knowledge. In any research point, epistemology refers to the definition of social concerns using individual actions or ideas. Every work of research should have epistemological foundations. Every research thesis should contribute towards the creation of a notion or knowledge. Acceptable principles of research identify the creation of knowledge as key among the various objectives of conducting it. Researchers many employ divergent ways to create knowledge as part of the objective of their undertaking. Obtaining information is central in ensuring the creation of knowledge in any research process. The widespread use of qualitative research methods is of high importance using non-statistical avenues of analyzing data. Qualitative research entails a vivid engagement of generating ideas from identifiable trends and patterns. Qualitative research deductive process that provides conclusions based logical premises (MacNabb 2010, p. 226). Qualitative research involves the virtual interaction between the researcher and the population of study through a comprehensive study. Judgments and deductions have their basis on information from the interaction between researcher and groups studied. The research by Selimovic et al use qualitative research methods since it is inclusive of participants from diverse groups. The researchers reach at the conclusion after interaction with women from diverse parts of the world. The inclusion of women from parts of the world that experienced violence and wars in the research makes the research specific and detailed. The women come from Armenia, Liberia and Bosnia among other places with history of wars. The research uses qualitative methods in an effective way. The emergence of feminist scholars continues to eliminate the gender-blindness in research in the area of study over the past (Ackerly, Stern & True 2006, p.1). Feminist study in international relations received a boost and support after a long time. The success of research in international relations has its base on the use of methodology. Methodology is helpful in developing a collective inquiry of ideas concerning feminist issues in international relations. The research by Selimovic et al is on an international relations topic that focuses on issues affecting women. The methodology applied in research in investigating the source of the plight of women in the society was central in developing the research question. The researchers cite the conventional trend by the extent to which most researchers look down upon the role of women in peace building initiatives. This forms their intention to justify the position and role of women in enhancing peace in a society where conflicts and wars occur (Selimovic et al 2012, p.8). According to the Selimovic et al (2012, p.7), there is a notable decline in instances of war. However, the absence of war among parties or nations is not a guarantee to the presence of peace. Attaining as peaceful society often turns challenging since conflicting parties tend to engage in war in sporadic circumstances. There is a significant improvement in peacekeeping among world countries after the 1992 peace agreement approved by the UN. The study reveals a grueling relationship between war and domestic discrimination against women. Conflicts that occur at domestic levels are a serious challenge towards attaining peace in societies where wars are rampant. The research investigates the increase in instances when women, though experiencing freedom, the limitation of their freedom after peace building initiatives create concern. It uses the methods of epistemology, ontology and methodology in research in a sufficient and satisfactory manner. The contribution of feminist methodologies in transforming international relations as a study is immeasurable. The broad approach of feminism in international relations is justifiable from its expanding dominance in a significant number of studies conducted. Selimovic et al (2012) is among the diverse research that embrace feminism as a dominant methodology. The extent of feminist inquiry is influential in the report by Selimovic et al (2012). It builds positivism towards the inclusion of women and their role in peace building initiatives. The extent to which women can engage in peace building in societies that experience violence is elaborate through the research. It promotes the necessity to involve women in initiatives aimed at ensuring a peaceful society. It informs policy initiatives to include the role of women in attaining peace in the society. Selimovic et al (2012) also develop feminist methodologies different from international relations study. These include research on the involvement of women policy formulation as implementation. This creates the role of feminist methodology in interdisciplinary approach to international relations research. The development of the interest on gender and feminism in international relations research is evident through the development of feminism methodology. The theory of international feminism is well developed with the development of feminism methodology. Feminism ontological assumptions based on epistemological criteria are vital in developing feminism methodology in international relations. Methodology in international relations research assumes a number of forms. Methodological reflections are important in bringing out the interrelatedness existing and revealed between the research’s ontology and epistemology. The understanding of the role of women in enhancing peace in violence-struck societies is possible through epistemological reflections. From the epistemological reflections, the researcher creates the understanding of the societal effects on the knowledge of feminism in international relations research. The inactive nature of feminism in international relations research becomes broad through the illustration of the methodology employed. The methodology explains what constitutes the prime subject of research. The methodology used by Selimovic et al (2012) is important in explaining the understanding of the knowledge of involvement of women in peacekeeping and restoration of harmony in societies that experience violence. The research’s methodology elaborates the extent to which the society understands the plight of women in areas where there are violence. It provides a clear elaboration of the extent to which women, in diverse countries, as Mali are subject to the influence of violence. These are possible because of the methodology used in the research by Selimovic et al (2012). Methodology also elaborates the extent to which transformations and trends in the research subject influences the mission to undertake the study. The slow implementation of statutes relating to inclusion of women in peacekeeping is a trend that influenced and urged Selimovic et al (2012) to conduct the research. The view of the researcher in on the possibility of reforms that would counter the trends is part of the methodology of any research. Selimovic et al conducts the research based on the view that there is a positive trend towards achieving full participation of women in the process of peacekeeping. They highlight the desire to implement the various statutes that provide for the participation of women in peacekeeping initiatives. Selimovic et al (2012) uses the power cube methodology as a way of elaborating the different aspects of the role of women in achieving peace in societies that are prone to violence. The three levels provide the research’s methodology that is in five diverse criteria of analysis. The methodology of power space depicts the different policies that dictate the power. The methodology of peace-making initiatives occurs at levels of power that act as platforms of interactions. At these levels, stakeholders interact in the process of keeping peace. Diversity in forms of power in keeping peace constitutes one of the methodologies of the research. The research also uses the methodology focus on the core objectives and the participation informants in the study. Women, among the informants, are the greatest informants involved in the research. The methodology of comparative aspects as used in the research outlines the comparison styles used during the study. Methodology in international relations research also dictates the form of research question designed in the research thesis. The research by Selimovic et al (2012) designs the thesis by questioning the potential of women to participate in missions that maintain peace in violence-prone areas and societies. They provide a clear analysis of the examples of successful scenarios in which women had their contribution including Mali. Methodology also compels the society or readers of the research to investigate the power relations and the possibility of answering the research thesis. The methodology in research is the main determinant of the ontology and epistemology among other research methods in social scientific enquiry. Selimovic et al (2012), therefore, use feminist methodology effectively to enhance critical social scientific thinking in research. References Ackerly, B, Stern, M & True, J 2006, Feminist Methodologies for International Relations, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY. Halperin, S & Heath, O 2012, Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills, Oxford University Press, New York, NY. Jackson, R & Srensen, G 2007, Introduction to International Relations: Theories And Approaches, Oxford University Press, New York, NY. MacNabb, D 2010, Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, M.E. Sharpe Inc., New York, NY. Mahoney, J & Rueschemeyer, D 2003, Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY. Selimovic, J, Nyquist, A & Soderberg, A 2012, Equal Power – Lasting Peace. Obstacles for women’s participation in peace processes,” Stockholm, Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, pp. 7-17. Read More