INTL 2480 –Women and World Politics

Professor Valentine M. Moghadam

Spring 2018 – Tues., 4.40-6.40 pm– Forsyth Building 238

Prof. Valentine M. Moghadam

Office: 210H Renaissance Park

Email:

Office hours: Tues,2:30-4:30or by appointment

Course Overview

This course introduces students to (a) a variety of issues facing women across the globe, and (b) the gender dynamics of key issues in international affairs, includingpolitical power, economic policy, conflict and war, human rights/women’s rights, and collective action. The course draws on examples from various world regions since the 20th century to analyze similarities and differences across cases. Key questions are:

  • To what extent do women participate in the decisions that shape the political and economic world? In what way does this participation matter?
  • What are the goals of women in politics and in movements?
  • How is gender inequality maintained or undermined by internationalorganizations, norms, and movements?
  • How does women’s access to power and decision-making vary across and within societies? What factors determine such access?

Course Objectives

  • To connect gender analysis to international affairs
  • To critically identify the political problems and opportunities that women face within their own countries and in the global arena
  • To examine and evaluate state policies and international agreements on women and gender issues

Learning Outcomes

  • Ability to deploy gender as a category of analysis in relation to international affairs
  • Familiarity with theoretical perspectives, research methods, and sources of data in the study of women in world politics and global women/gender issues
  • Understanding the intersection of gender, class, and race/ethnicity at macro, meso, and micro levels of analysis and processes as these pertain to women and politics
  • Ability to connect theory and case study to real-life situations

Course Requirements

This course aims to introduce students to basic concepts and debates in gender and international affairs. Each week, three students will come prepared to lead the discussion (via power point or outline); others will hand in a response sheet. You are expected to come to class prepared and to participate actively in all class discussions; as a result, more than one missed class without legitimate cause will result in a grade reduction. Grades for the course will be calculated as follows:

Class participation (20%) – This includes the weekly classroom presentations and reflection sheets on the readings.

Take-home midterm (20%) – A week before the assignment is due, I will distribute a set of questions from which you will choose three to write a 3-5-page set of responses (space-and-a-half). Due: March1st.

Proposal (20%) – This is a 2-3 page proposal for your final paper, with a question to be explored, why it is significant, how it relates to the course and readings thus far, and how you intend to research the subject; include a tentative annotated bibliography. (You may use readings cited in the books or at the end of this syllabus.) Due: March 20. (For any seniors, add propositions/expected findings.)

Final paper (40%) – Between 6,000 and 8,000 words long (8,000 for seniors), the paper builds on your earlier assignments and proposal and will pertain to a key topic in global women/gender issues. Use data to illustrate your argument, along with proper citation and social science referencing. Due: April 20.

Weekly Response Paper(2 pages max):

  1. What are three key arguments of the week’s theme and the readings? (You may use bullets but be specific)
  2. Using at least one of the women’s organization /feminist websites on the syllabus, show how it addresses the week’s topics and themes (in short narrative form; include your source/URL).

Tips on writing the final paper: Include a cover page; use space-and-a-half (not single or double space) and the pages should be numbered. Tweak your proposal for the paper’s introduction. Use Harvard referencing system (see format of Bibliography at end of this syllabus); end with a Summary and Conclusion– and if appropriate, Policy Recommendations.

Grading

Class participation: 20%

Midterm: 20%

Proposal: 20%

Final paper: 40%

Required Course Readings

  • Henderson, Sarah L. and Alana S. Jeydel. 2014. Women and Politics in a Global World. New York: Oxford University Press, 3rdedition.
  • Paxton, Pamela and Melanie M. Hughes. 2014. Women, Politics and Power: A Global Perspective. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press, 2nd ed.
  • Catia Confortini. 2012.Intelligent Compassion: Feminist Critical Methodology in the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 2012 (Ch. 1 & Epilogue only; e-book available through Snell Library)

Additional Course Readings

Berkovitch, Nitza. 1999. “The Emergence and Transformation of the International Women’s Movement.” Pp. 100-126 in John Boli and George M. Thomas (eds.), Constructing World Culture: International Non-Governmental Organizations since 1875. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Moghadam, V. M. 2003. “Engendering Citizenship, Feminizing Civil Society: The Case of the Middle East and North Africa.” Women & Politics, vol. 25, nos. 1-2: 63-88.

Moghadam, V. M. 2015. “Transnational Feminism and Movement-building.” Ch. 2 (pp. 53-81) in Rawwida Baksh and Wendy Harcourt (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Transnational Feminist Movements. Oxford University Press.

Carreon, Michelle and V. M. Moghadam. 2015. "‘Resistance is Fertile’: Revisiting Maternalist Frames across Cases of Women's Mobilization.” Women's Studies International Forum, vol. 51 (July-August): 19-30. doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2015.04.002

Nam, Jeong-Lim. 1995. “Reforming Economic Reformation in the Family: The Women’s Movement and the Role of the State in South Korea.” Women’s Studies International Forum, vol. 18, no. 2: 113-123.

Heo, MinSook. 2010. “Women’s Movement and the Politics of Framing: The Construction of anti-Domestic Violence Legislation in South Korea.” Women’s Studies International Forum, 33: 225-233.

Kim, Seung-kyung and Kyounghee Kim. 2011. “Gender Mainstreaming and the Institutionalization of the Women’s Movement in South Korea.” Women’s Studies International Forum, 34: 390-400.

Bergmann, Barbara. 1997. “Government Support for Families with Children in the United States and France.” Feminist Economics, vol. 3, no. 1: 85-94.

Moghadam, V.M. and Gordana Rabrenovic. 2016. “Mainstreaming Gender Equality”. Thematic paper commissioned by UNESCO within the framework of UNESCO’s International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR), for the Expert Meeting of the ICCAR in Nairobi in November 2016, and for a future publication: Towards an enabling environment for urban inclusion: A guide for good practice. (Oct.)

GAD Initiative Report:

Caprioli, Mary. 2005. “Primed for Violence: The Role of Gender Inequality in Predicting Internal Conflict.” International Studies Quarterly49: 161–178.

Buvinic, Mayra, Monica Das Gupta, Ursula Casabonne, & Philip Verwimp. 2010. “Violent Conflict and Gender Inequality: An Overview.” Washington D.C.: The World Bank Research Observer28:110–138.

Leatherman, Janie. 2011. “From Global Outrage to Action: Campaigning Against Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict.” 2011 Cummings-Perrucci Lecture, Purdue University (20 Oct.).

Moghadam, V.M.Fatemeh Haghighatjoo. 2016. “Women and Political Leadership in an Authoritarian Context: A Case Study of the Sixth Parliament in the Islamic Republic of Iran” (Moghadam and Fatemeh Haghighatjoo), Politics & Gender, vol. 12: 168-197.

Moghadam, V.M. 2017. “Explaining Divergent Outcomes of the Arab Spring: The Significance of Gender and Women’s Mobilizations.” Politics, Groups, and Identities (first on-line Feb.).

Websites/Databases:

Women’s Organizations and Policy Centers

  • Association for Women’s Rights in Development:
  • European Women’s Lobby
  • International Center for Research on Women -
  • Women’s Caucus for Gender Justice:
  • Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
  • National Organization for Women -
  • Code Pink: Women for Peace
  • Nobel Women’s Initiative
  • Network Women in Development Europe
  • Women Living Under Muslim Laws
  • Women’s Environment and Development Organization
  • Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era
  • Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace
  • WomanStats Project Database
  • Women’s March -

International Organizations and Databases

  • Global Database of Quotas for Women:
  • Interparliamentary Union, Women in Politics database:
  • OECD, The Gender, Institutions, and Development Database
  • UN Women Agency -
  • WomenWatch:
  • CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
  • CSW – Commission on the Status of Women
  • International Labor Organization; labor statistics – [and for more details:]
  • UNDP, Human Development Report
  • United Nations Population Fund -
  • World Bank, World Development Indicators

-

  • World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Report
  • Population Reference Bureau -
  • World Values Survey
  • Oxfam International

Schedule of Readings, Discussions, Assignments

Week /Dates / Readings / Assignment
Tues. Jan. 9 / Introductions, and Discussion of Syllabus, Readings, and Data Websites
Jan. 16 / Paxton & Hughes, ch. 1; Henderson & Jeydel, ch. 1 / Lecture
History of women’s political rights / Lecture
Paxton & Hughes, chps. 2 & 3; Berkovitch 1999
Jan 23 / Women and non-institutional politics / Student presentations and response sheets
Hannah, Sheikha
Henderson & Jeydel, chs. 2 & 3; Moghadam 2003; Moghadam 2015; Carreon and Moghadam 2015
Jan. 30 / History and Activities of WILPF: Confortini, chps. 1 & Epilogue;
Code Pink: Women for Peace / Same – Julia, Rose
Feb. 6 / South Korean women’s movement achievements: Nam 1995; Heo 2010; Kim & Kim 2011 / Same – Asta, Porter
Feb. 13 / Gendering public policy / Same – Martha, Delfina
Henderson & Jeydel, chs. 4 & 5; Bergmann 1997; Moghadam and Rabrenovic 2016;

Feb. 20 / Gender, development, and international organizations / Same– Kristin, Maggie
Henderson & Jeydel, chs. 7 & 8; UNWomen website; GAD Report:

Feb. 27 / Sexual violence and war / Same - Chris, Crystal
Henderson & Jeydel, ch. 11; Caprioli 2005; Buvinic et al. 2010; Leatherman 2011; (Senate bill 1141 on women, peace, and security)
March 6 / Spring break – no class / Take-home midterm due Thurs., 1st March
March 13 / Explaining women’s political participation / Cathy, Maggie
Paxton & Hughes, chs. 4, 5, 6, 7;
March 20 / Proposals due – in-class peer review and discussion / Proposals due
March 27 / Do Women Make a Difference? / Kelsey, Christina
Paxton & Hughes chs. 8 & 9; Moghadam & Haghighatjoo 2016; Moghadam 2017
April 3 / Regional Surveys / Choose one region for reflection paper
Paxton & Hughes, chs. 10-15
April 10 / Discussion of final papers
April 17 / Same
Fri., April 20 / Final papers due – email and hard copy, by 5 pm / Final papers due

NORTHEASTERN’S ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

A commitment to the principles of academic integrity is essential to the mission of Northeastern University.The promotion of independent and original scholarship ensures that students derive the most from their educational experience and their pursuit of knowledge. Academic dishonesty violates the most fundamental values of an intellectual community and undermines the achievements of the entire University. The following is a broad overview, but not an all-encompassing definition, of what constitutes a violation of academic integrity:

Plagiarism: The University defines plagiarism as intentionally representing the words, ideas, or dataof another as one’s own in any academic exercise without providing proper citation. The following sources require citation:

Word-for-word quotation from a source, including another student’s work.

Paraphrasing (using the ideas of others in your own words).

Unusual or controversial facts not widely recognized.

Audio, video, digital, or live exchanges of ideas, dialogue, or information.

Students unclear as to whether or not a source requires citation should speak with their professor or consult the Writing Center in 412 Holmes Hall.

Unauthorized Collaboration: The University defines unauthorized collaboration asinstances when students submit individual academic works that are substantially similar to one another. While several students may have the same source material, the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the data must be each individual's independent work.

Examples:

Sharing a take-home examination, case write-up, lab report, or any other assignment with a peer without express permission from the instructor.

Completing an academic exercise with the aid of a peer, but unfairly crediting all work to oneself.

Participation in Academically Dishonest Activities: The University defines participation in academically dishonest activities as any action taken by a student with the intent of gaining an unfair advantage. Examples:

Misrepresenting oneself or one's circumstances to an instructor.

Stealing an examination.

Purchasing a pre-written paper.

Selling, loaning, or otherwise distributing materials for the purpose of cheating, plagiarism, or other academically dishonest acts.

Destroying, altering, stealing, or forging another student's work, library materials, laboratory materials, academic records, course syllabi, or examination/course grades.

Intentionally missing an examination or assignment deadline to gain an unfair advantage.

Forging information or signatures on official University documents.

Bibliography of Other Relevant Readings

Baldez, Lisa. 2002. “Why Women Protest: Tipping, Timing, and Framing.” Pp. 1-20 in Why Women Protest: Women’s Movements in Chile. New York: Cambridge University Press.

-----. 2010. “The Gender Lacuna in Comparative Politics.” Perspectives on Politics, vol. 8, no. 1 (March): 199-205.

Basu, Amrita, ed. 2010. Women’s Movements in the Global Era: The Power of Local Feminisms. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Beckwith, Karen. 2000. “Beyond Compare? Women’s Movements in Comparative Perspective.” European Journal of Political Research 37: 431-468.

-----. 2010. “Introduction: Comparative Politics and the Logics of a Comparative Politics of Gender.” Perspectives on Politics, vol. 8, no. 1 (March): 159-168.

-----. 2007. “Mapping strategic engagements: women’s movements and the state”, International Feminist Journal of Politics,vol. 9, no. 3: 312-38.

Berkovitch, Nitza. 1999. From Motherhood to Citizenship: Women’s Rights and International Organizations. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Brand, Laurie A. 1998. Women, the State, and Political Liberalization: Middle Eastern and North African Experiences. New York: Columbia University Press.

Bystydzienski, Jill M. and Joti Sekhon (eds.). 1999. Democratization and Women’s Grassroots Movements. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Dickinson, Torry D. and Robert K. Schaeffer. 2008. Transformations: Feminist Pathways to Global Change: An Analytical Anthology. Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.

Fallon, Kathleen. 2008. Democracy and the Rise of Women’s Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Grey, Sandra and Marian Sawer (eds.). 2008. Women’s Movements: Flourishing or in Abeyance? London and New York: Routledge.

Haussman, Melissa and Birgit Sauer (eds.). 2007. Gendering the State in the Age of Globalization: Women’s Movements and State Feminism in Postindustrial Democracies. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Horn, Denise. 2013. Democratic Governance and Social Entrepreneurship: Civic Participation and the Future of Democracy. London: Routledge.

Htun, Mala and Laurel Weldon. 2012. “The Civic Origins of Progressive Policy Change: Combating Violence against Women in Global Perspective 1975-2005.” American Political Science Review, vol. 106, no. 3: 548-69.

Inglehart, Ronald and Pippa Norris. 2000. “The Developmental Theory of the Gender Gap: Women’s and Men’s Voting Behavior in Global Perspective.” International Political Science Review 21, no. 4: 441-463.

-----. 2003. Rising Tide: Gender Equality and Cultural Change. NY: Cambridge University Press.

Jaquette, Jane S. and Sharon L. Wolchik. 1998. Women and Democracy: Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Jaquette, Jane S. (ed.). 2009. Feminist Agendas and Democracy in Latin America. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Jütting, J P, C. Morrisson, J. Dayton-Johnson, and D. Drechsler. 2006. Measuring Gender (In)equality: Introducing the Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base (GID). Working Paper No. 247. OECD Development Centre (March). 17/49/36228820.pdf

Kabeer, Naila. 1996. Reversed Realities: Gender Hierarchies in Development Thought: Oxford Univ. Press.

Kim, Seung-kyung and Kyounghee Kim. 2011. “Gender mainstreaming and the institutionalization of the women’s movement in South Korea.” Women’s Studies International Forum 34 (5): 390-400.

Kittelson, Miki Caul. 2008. “Representing women: the adoption of family leave in comparative perspective.” The Journal of Politics 70 92): 323-334.

Krook, Mona Lena and Sarah Childs. 2010. Women, Gender and Politics: A Reader. New York: Oxford University Press.

Krook, Mona Lena. 2009. Quotas for Women in Politics: Gender and Candidate Selection Reform Worldwide. New York: Oxford University Press.

-----. 2010. “Studying Political Representation: A Comparative-Gendered Approach.” Perspectives on Politics, vol. 8, no. 1 (March): 233-240.

Leatherman, Janie L. 2011. Sexual Violence and Armed Conflict. Medford, MA: Polity Press.

Moghadam, Valentine M. 2015. “Transnational Feminism and Movement-building.” Ch. 2 in Rawwida Baksh and Wendy Harcourt (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Transnational Feminist Movements. NY: Oxford University Press.

-----. 2014. “Democratization and Women’s Political Leadership in North Africa.” Columbia Journal of International Affairs, vol. 68, No. 1 (Fall/Winter): 35-53.

-----. 2013a. Modernizing Women: Gender and Social Change in the Middle East. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Pubs. 3rd ed.

-----. 2013b. “What is Democracy? Promises and Perils of the Arab Spring.” Current Sociology, vol. 61, no. 4 (June): 393-408.

-----. 2012. Globalization and Social Movements: Islamism, Feminism, and the Global Justice Movement. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. 2nd ed.

-----. 2005. Globalizing Women: Transnational Feminist Networks. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Molyneux, Maxine. 1998. “Analyzing Women’s Movements.” Development and Change vol.29, no. 2: 219-245.

Parpart, Jane L., et al. (eds.). 2000. Theoretical Perspectives on Gender and Development. Ottawa: IDRC Books.

Peterson, V. Spike and Anne Sisson Runyan. 2010. Global Gender Issues in the New Millennium. Westview Press.

Reanda, Laura. 1999. “Engendering the United Nations: The Changing International Agenda.” European Journal of Women’s Studies 6: 49-70.

Sylvester, Christine. 1999. “Development Studies and Postcolonial Studies: Disparate Tales of the Third World.” Third World Quarterly 20 (4): 703-725.

Visvanathan, Nalini et al. 2011. The Women, Gender and Development Reader. London: Zed Books, 2nd edition.

Viterna, Jocelyn and Kathleen Fallon. 2008. “Democratization, Women’s Movements, and Gender-Equitable States: A Framework for Comparison.” American Sociological Review, vol. 73, no. 4 (August): 668–689.

Voller, Yaniv. 2014. “Countering Violence against Women in Iraqi Kurdistan: State-Building and Transnational Advocacy.” International Journal of Middle East Studies, vol. 46: 351-72.

Waylen, Georgina. 2007. Engendering Transitions: Women's Mobilization, Institutions and Gender Outcomes. London and New York: Oxford University Press.

Weldon, S. Laurel. 2011. When Protest Makes Policy: How Social Movements Represent Disadvantaged Groups. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

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