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Backlash Against the Women, Peace and Security Agenda : Contesting Gender Norms

Björkdahl, Annika LU ; Lorentzen, Jenny LU and Skjelsbæk, Inger (2026) In Norm Research in International Relations
Abstract
In recent years, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has faced mounting resistance from regressive political forces seeking to undermine its hard-won normative gains. This Open Access book offers a timely and rigorous examination of this global backlash, providing both theoretical innovation and empirical depth.

Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners, the volume introduces a novel analytical framework that weaves together the concepts of backlash, counter-practices, and counter-discourses. It pioneers a deeper conceptual understanding of backlash—an often under-theorized phenomenon in feminist scholarship—and explores how resistance to gender norms is mobilized, manifested, and sustained across diverse... (More)
In recent years, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has faced mounting resistance from regressive political forces seeking to undermine its hard-won normative gains. This Open Access book offers a timely and rigorous examination of this global backlash, providing both theoretical innovation and empirical depth.

Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners, the volume introduces a novel analytical framework that weaves together the concepts of backlash, counter-practices, and counter-discourses. It pioneers a deeper conceptual understanding of backlash—an often under-theorized phenomenon in feminist scholarship—and explores how resistance to gender norms is mobilized, manifested, and sustained across diverse contexts.

Through richly detailed case studies from around the world, the book reveals how backlash operates at multiple levels, from subtle discursive shifts to overt political maneuvers. It interrogates how these dynamics stall, reshape, or reverse the WPS agenda, exposing the fragility of normative progress in international peace and security governance.

Essential reading for scholars, peacebuilders, and advocates committed to advancing gender justice in global security, this volume not only diagnoses the threats facing the WPS agenda but also underscores the urgent need for sustained scholarly and policy engagement to protect and advance feminist achievements in global security. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
editor
LU ; LU and Skjelsbæk, Inger
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
in
Norm Research in International Relations
pages
183 pages
publisher
Springer
ISSN
2522-8684
2522-8676
ISBN
978-3-032-10852-4
978-3-032-10855-5
978-3-032-10853-1
DOI
10.1007/978-3-032-10853-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
171d0b28-adc3-489a-a7f9-639a603e50e2
date added to LUP
2026-06-01 16:14:31
date last changed
2026-06-01 16:14:31
@book{171d0b28-adc3-489a-a7f9-639a603e50e2,
  abstract     = {{In recent years, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has faced mounting resistance from regressive political forces seeking to undermine its hard-won normative gains. This Open Access book offers a timely and rigorous examination of this global backlash, providing both theoretical innovation and empirical depth.<br/><br/>Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners, the volume introduces a novel analytical framework that weaves together the concepts of backlash, counter-practices, and counter-discourses. It pioneers a deeper conceptual understanding of backlash—an often under-theorized phenomenon in feminist scholarship—and explores how resistance to gender norms is mobilized, manifested, and sustained across diverse contexts.<br/><br/>Through richly detailed case studies from around the world, the book reveals how backlash operates at multiple levels, from subtle discursive shifts to overt political maneuvers. It interrogates how these dynamics stall, reshape, or reverse the WPS agenda, exposing the fragility of normative progress in international peace and security governance.<br/><br/>Essential reading for scholars, peacebuilders, and advocates committed to advancing gender justice in global security, this volume not only diagnoses the threats facing the WPS agenda but also underscores the urgent need for sustained scholarly and policy engagement to protect and advance feminist achievements in global security.}},
  editor       = {{Björkdahl, Annika and Lorentzen, Jenny and Skjelsbæk, Inger}},
  isbn         = {{978-3-032-10852-4}},
  issn         = {{2522-8684}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Book Editor}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Norm Research in International Relations}},
  title        = {{Backlash Against the Women, Peace and Security Agenda : Contesting Gender Norms}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-10853-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-032-10853-1}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}