Open AccessWomen, Peace and Security in Zimbabwe - The Case of Conflict in Non War Zones
Author(s) -
Rutendo Chabikwa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of african conflicts and peace studies/journal of african conflict and peace studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2325-484X
pISSN - 1996-3157
DOI - 10.5038/2325-484x.4.2.1141
Subject(s) - peace and conflict studies , political science , perspective (graphical) , relevance (law) , gender analysis , gender studies , conflict analysis , security studies , international relations , sociology , political economy , armed conflict , conflict resolution , criminology , law , politics , artificial intelligence , computer science
The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is the United Nation’s (UN) key policy instrument for addressing gender violence in conflict zones. However, the agenda has been preoccupied with “hot” conflicts, and its application and relevance to sustained, but “low level” conflict situations is poorly conceptualized. This research considers this issue through a case study of Zimbabwe since 2000. I make the case for broadening the understanding of conflict as found in the WPS agenda. This paper addresses the question: ‘How does the case of Zimbabwe exemplify the need for a broader understanding of conflict within the WPS agenda as it applies to non-war settings?’ I first consider the nature of non-war zones, adopting a feminist international relations theory perspective, incorporating elements of postcolonial feminist theory and critical race theory. We then review Zimbabwe’s recent history and situate it as a country in non-war conflict zone. We situate Zimbabwe’s recent history clearly within the concept of non-war zones and discuss the nature of gender violence in this setting. My analysis adds to the body of literature and research on non-war zones and argues for broadening the WPS agenda to encompass a broader understanding of conflict, specifically arguing for the centrality of gender-based violence in non-war situations, as exemplified in Zimbabwe’s recent history.