Beyond the battlefield: a feminist lens on ir & the wps agenda for UPSC

The Unseen Half: Reframing Global Politics Through a Feminist Lens

For decades, the study of International Relations (IR) resembled watching a grand play with half the cast missing. Traditional theories like Realism and Liberalism focused almost exclusively on states, armies, and male leaders—the so-called ‘high politics’ of war and diplomacy. Feminist IR theory emerged as a powerful critique of this narrow worldview. It doesn’t just seek to ‘add women and stir’; it fundamentally challenges the core assumptions about power, security, and peace.

Feminism argues that by ignoring the experiences, perspectives, and agency of women, traditional IR presents an incomplete and distorted picture of global politics. It questions why domestic violence is seen as a private issue while state violence is a global concern, or why women are often stereotyped as passive victims of conflict rather than active agents of peace (or even violence). By making the invisible visible, this approach provides a more holistic understanding of international security.

Analogy: Traditional IR is like analyzing a nation’s economy by only looking at the stock market. Feminist IR is like conducting a household survey—it reveals the ground realities of labor, resource distribution, and well-being that truly define economic health.

The Birth of a Revolution: UNSC Resolution 1325 & the WPS Agenda

The most significant practical outcome of feminist advocacy in international security was the unanimous adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on October 31, 2000. This landmark resolution was the first to formally recognize the unique and disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls. More importantly, it established women as critical agents in conflict prevention, peace-building, and post-conflict reconstruction.

UNSCR 1325 and the nine subsequent resolutions form the basis of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. The agenda is structured around four foundational pillars, each addressing a critical aspect of gender in conflict.

Memorable Mnemonic (The 4 Pillars of WPS): Remember the phrase “People Protect Peaceful Recovery” - representing Participation, Protection, Prevention, and Relief & Recovery.

The WPS Agenda in 2024-2025: Progress, Pushback, and the Path Forward

Nearly a quarter-century after its adoption, the implementation of the WPS agenda remains a story of mixed success and significant challenges. Recent reports and events highlight a concerning gap between rhetoric and reality.

The Sobering Reality: A November 2024 UNDP report marking the 24th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 expressed concern over the worsening situation for women in conflict zones. Data shows that in 2023, women constituted just 9.6% of peace negotiators globally. Furthermore, funding remains a critical issue; only 0.3% of Official Development Assistance in conflict-affected settings went to local women’s organizations in 2021-2022.

The 2023/2024 Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index, which ranks 177 countries on women’s inclusion, justice, and security, reveals wide disparities and highlights the threat of political violence deterring women’s engagement in civic spaces.

Fun Fact: Studies consistently show that peace agreements are significantly more durable when women are involved. A landmark study found that when women participate in peace processes, the resulting agreement is 35% more likely to last at least 15 years.

Emerging Trends & Opportunities: Despite the challenges, there are positive developments. The concept of a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), first adopted by Sweden in 2014, is gaining traction. As of early 2024, over a dozen countries, including Canada, France, Mexico, Spain, and Germany, have adopted FFPs, committing to integrate gender equality across their diplomatic, trade, and security initiatives. In July 2024, Bolivia announced it was working on developing its own FFP, demonstrating the concept’s growing global appeal.

India has also reaffirmed its commitment to the WPS agenda. In an October 2024 UNSC debate, India highlighted its pioneering role in deploying the first all-female police unit to Liberia in 2007 and noted the recent achievements of Indian women peacekeepers like Major Radhika Sen, who received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award in 2023.

Captivating Statistic: The percentage of women in UN peacekeeping has seen a slow but steady rise. From just 1% in 1993, women now constitute about 10% of uniformed peacekeeping personnel as of January 2025. However, this still falls short of the targets set by the UN’s Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (2018-2028).

Critical Policy Appraisal

** Analytical Lens: UPSC Focus (Mains & Prelims)**

Conceptual Basis:

• Key International Legislation: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) is the foundational document. It has been supplemented by nine other resolutions (e.g., 1820 on sexual violence, 1888 on leadership to combat it) that collectively form the WPS Agenda.

UPSC Integration: Connecting the Dots

• GS Paper 1 (Indian Society): The WPS agenda connects directly to the role of women, patriarchy, and regionalism. Analyze the impact of conflict on women in regions like Jammu & Kashmir or the Northeast and the role of women-led movements (e.g., Chipko, Meira Paibis) in peace and security.
• GS Paper 2 (Polity & International Relations): This topic is crucial for IR, covering India’s role in UN Peacekeeping, its quest for a permanent UNSC seat (by showcasing itself as a responsible global actor), and its foreign policy. It also links to governance issues like gender budgeting and political representation of women (e.g., Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023).
• GS Paper 3 (Internal Security): The role of women in preventing radicalization and as agents in counter-insurgency or de-radicalization programs is a vital dimension of modern security policy.

Future Impact and Policy Relevance: The WPS agenda is evolving from a niche topic to a central pillar of comprehensive security. Its principles are critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). For India, while its international contributions are commendable, the major policy challenge lies in domesticating the WPS agenda. The absence of a National Action Plan (NAP) is a significant gap that prevents a structured, whole-of-government approach to linking women’s empowerment with national security. Future policy will need to bridge this disconnect between India’s global advocacy and domestic implementation.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question (MCQ):

Which of the following are correctly identified as the core pillars of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security?

1. Participation
2. Prosecution
3. Protection
4. Prevention
5. Relief & Recovery

Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer and Explanation: Correct Answer: (b) The four official pillars of the WPS agenda as established by UNSCR 1325 and subsequent policy are Participation, Protection, Prevention, and Relief & Recovery. ‘Prosecution’ is an important aspect of ensuring accountability under the ‘Protection’ pillar but is not considered one of the four foundational pillars itself.

UPSC Mains Sample Question (15 Marks):

“While India has been a vocal proponent of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda on the global stage, its domestic implementation reveals a significant policy paradox. Critically analyze this statement, suggesting measures to create better synergy between India’s international commitments and national realities.”

Mind Map Outline (Revision Structure)

• Feminism in International Relations & the WPS Agenda
  • Core Feminist Critique of Traditional IR
    • Challenges to state-centric, militarized views of security.
    • Making gender visible: questioning the public/private divide.
    • Moving beyond victimhood to recognize women’s agency.
  • The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda
    • Genesis: The Landmark UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000)
      • The Four Pillars of WPS
        • Participation: Decision-making roles.
        • Protection: Safeguarding from gender-based violence.
        • Prevention: Addressing root causes through a gender lens.
        • Relief & Recovery: Gender-sensitive post-conflict reconstruction.
    • Evolution: Subsequent resolutions (e.g., 1820, 1888) strengthening the agenda.
  • Contemporary Scenario (Post-2023 Developments)
    • Global Implementation Gaps
      • Findings from the 2023/24 WPS Index.
      • Statistics on women in peace negotiations (9.6% in 2023).
      • Persistent underfunding of women’s organizations.
    • New Trends & Policies
      • The rise of Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) globally.
      • UN’s Common Pledge for Women’s Participation (launched 2024).
  • India and the WPS Agenda
    • International Role
      • Pioneering contributions to UN Peacekeeping (All-Women Police Unit).
      • Advocacy at the UN Security Council.
    • Domestic Paradox
      • Absence of a National Action Plan (NAP).
      • Disconnect between foreign policy posturing and internal conflict zones.
  • Critical Appraisal & Way Forward
    • Challenges: Tokenism, political backlash, lack of resources.
    • Opportunities: Linking WPS to SDGs, localization through LAPs, strengthening accountability mechanisms.