A discourse analysis of rape in war: case studies from bosnia, burma and rwanda

The first wave of Feminist International Relations (IR) and Gender and IR has demonstrated the importance of gender to IR, and commonly cited the example of rape in war; however, this example has assumed a unified understanding of rape: the reasons men use rape against women are explored as symptoma...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Bassett, Gwyn Daniel
Format:	Dissertation
Language:	English
Published:	ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2005
Subjects:	International law
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	The first wave of Feminist International Relations (IR) and Gender and IR has demonstrated the importance of gender to IR, and commonly cited the example of rape in war; however, this example has assumed a unified understanding of rape: the reasons men use rape against women are explored as symptomatic, and reinforcing, of patriarchy. This thesis argues that rape must be understood in its local context, and that there is a multiplicity of understandings of rape in war. Rape cannot simply be observed, but must be imposed through language. A positivist framework cannot adequately analyse this multiplicity. The thesis therefore uses a post-positivist framework - specifically a critical discourse analysis informed by Foucault - to problematise rape in war. Three case studies are used - from Bosnia, Burma and Rwanda - to first analyse local discourses of rape in war, and secondly analyse the effect of international influences on discourses of rape in war. The case studies draw predominantly on testimonies obtained by the International Criminal Tribunals and human rights groups. By using a discourse analysis this thesis provides a critical account of understandings of rape that are assumed to be homogeneous, and of how a hegemonic discourse is emerging. In this process the sexual is frequently privileged over the violent, with rape referring to (generic) sexual violence against women rather than (specific) violence conducted in a sexual way. This thesis concludes that rape in war can have no unified or extra-discursive meaning and strategically is better understood in international law as a form of torture.