Transformation of violence-centered masculinities after armed conflicts

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The emergence and dynamics of violence-centered masculinities in armed conflicts has been extensively studied. By contrast, research into its transformation und suspension by post-conflict peace building is still in its infancy. This is not unproblematic insofar as violence-centered masculinities demonstrably endanger the stability of post-war societies. In addition, they are often associated with an increase in domestic violence. Therefore, the proposed project seeks to address the question of whether and how key instruments of peacebuilding – the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants (DDR), security sector reforms (SSR) and transitional justice measures (TJM) – contribute to the transformation and eventually suspension of violence-centered masculinities. Based on gender research and practice theory, we assume that constructions of violence-centered masculinities can be identified and investigated through discursive and social practices at two different social levels. Accordingly, we distinguish (a) militarized masculinities at the macro level, and (b) military masculinities at the meso level. Specifically, we want to use an exploratory research design to analyze whether and how DDR, SSR and TJM address and change violence-centered masculinities on these two levels in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda. We selected these three countries because there is already prima facie evidence (1) that the three instruments of peace-building we are focusing on were deployed, (2) that they contributed to the emergence of stable post-conflict societies, and (3) that violence-centered masculinities have been transformed more or less successfully at different levels. The main objective of our research project is to contribute to theory development in the field of the transformation of violence-centered masculinities by reconstructing and analyzing selected peacebuilding processes within the framework of multidimensional process studies.