Gender Wars: A Canary in the Coal Mine for Global Authoritarianism
Globally, women are actively resisting the rise of authoritarianism, as evidenced by their crucial roles in movements in Moldova, Poland, Hong Kong, and Georgia. However, the U.S. national security community often overlooks the significance of women’s issues, neglecting their vital contributions to national security. A Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework offers a valuable lens to understand how authoritarian regimes weaponize gender, highlighting the need for increased support of women’s groups, improved intelligence gathering incorporating gender perspectives, and greater participation of the U.S. national security community in WPS discussions. This approach can improve early detection and effective countermeasures against authoritarianism.
John Q. Hosedrinker