Gender, State-collapse, Conflict and State-building: Recent Research from the Somali Context
Change to original programme
Prescribing and policing gender norms and relations, in other words controlling society’s experiences of femininity and masculinity, along with social exclusion practices, is arguably at the very heart of the protracted and violent struggle for political and ideological power in today’s Somalia. The research material that my session will be drawing on comes from two recent qualitative studies: the Impact of War on Somali Men (Rift Valley Institute) and Learning from Kismayo: a study of women’s roles and responsibilities in clan-related armed violence in the Somali conflict (Life & Peace with Peace Direct). The second study was prompted by the widespread exclusion of Somali women from peace processes and political settlements. Together, the studies’ findings provide a detailed picture of the gendered dynamics and impacts of Somalia’s post-1991 violence. They deepen understanding of the complex power and gender relations at play in a context of an absent, weak or fragile state. At the same time, they give rise to many new questions, some of which we can perhaps discuss during the session.
Judith has worked in development and peacebuilding for 30 years, as a practitioner and researcher, developing a particular focus on gender and conflict. As a researcher, uses she participatory approach and qualitative methods. Among many others, she authored a ground-breaking conception study with the Rift Valley Institute on war’s impact on Somali men. Judith has an undergraduate degree in Anthropology & Archaeology from Durham University and a London University Diploma in ‘Food Resources Related to Community Development’ from Kings College (QEC) London University.
Date:
6 November 2018, 13:00
Venue:
Manor Road Building, Manor Road OX1 3UQ
Venue Details:
Seminar Room G, Department of Politics and International Relations
Speaker:
Judith Gardner
Organising department:
Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR)
Organiser contact email address:
info@ccw.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Dr Katerina Tkacova (University of Oxford)
Part of:
Changing Character of War (CCW) Seminar Series
Topics:
Booking required?:
Not required
Cost:
Free
Audience:
Public
Editor:
Elizabeth Robson