Preparing for the next window: the endurance of feminist peace activism

A current strand of my research examines the sites and strategies of women's political engagement that occurs largely away from so-called critical junctures, such as during peace negotiations. I have sought to answer the following questions: To what degree are women able to sustain gains made in peace negotiations? Where and how do women in post-accord settings participate in formal and informal politics? My research has demonstrated the politically complex work of feminist activists, including the concept of the “continuum of activism,” which can be used as a lens through which to understand how feminist peace activism persists throughout time, transmutes in various spaces, and is conducted on various scales, responding to violence of various types. I have situated my work within a broader body of research on transnational actors and international security and within a constructivist paradigm of International Relations. Methodologically, I have drawn on social network analysis and embedded feminist techniques to understand the collective action of women peace activists.