The Gender Dimension (Gender Theory) in the Study of International Relations: From Theory to Practice -The Case of Singapore-

Abstract

      "Feminist theory," which began to emerge in the 1990s, represented an intellectual contribution to the field of international relations alongside the explanations offered by both realist and liberal theories regarding the nature of complexity in international politics. From an analytical and interpretive perspective, what has been the contribution of feminist theory to the field of international relations? Although it adopted a unique perspective in analyzing and theorizing this complexity and the underlying causes of conflict and war, the theory did not merely argue that neglecting women’s role in decision-making allows conflicts to dominate relations between nations and peoples; but it also highlighted another positive aspect of this participation, namely its implications for development and economic growth. Singapore served as an enviable example of the feminist role in domestic and foreign decision-making as a model in this study, and consequently, “gender equality” became a goal for many domestic policies, as well as a foreign policy objective for some states. Nevertheless, power, interests, and traditional institutional structures remain the greatest obstacles to the wider application of this theory.