COMPREHENDING GENDER AND PEACEBUILDING: AN ANALYSIS OF ELISABETH PORTER’S WRITINGS

Abstract

The main objective to review this book is to understand the reality of the issues of women’s peacebuilding. The primary focus of the book is on vulnerable women living in war zones that are transitioning from existing violence to new democratic and peaceful frameworks. The book further discusses formal and informal peace processes during the pre-conflict, during the conflict, and post-conflict transitions and is written to be relevant to all peacebuilders. As the book author Elizabeth Porter highlights positive examples of women's peacebuilding in comparative international contexts, she, critically questions these accepted and entrenched dualisms that prevent meaningful reconciliation. It also investigates the harm caused by the 'other' and the significance of recognition, inclusion, and tolerance. This book provides a better understanding of the gravity of the issues and problems associated with peacebuilding. In this book, she has tried to articulate many of the theories underlying the concept of peacebuilding. It also provides many concrete examples of significant short-term and long-term programs, policies, and practices that help build and sustain meaningful peace, most importantly peacebuilding practices. Appreciate her efforts to highlight gender equality and her efforts to confirm it at the end of the book should be appreciated. Also, since she has written the book from secondary sources, it seems that she has a good understanding of the literature on peace and peacebuilding. As a result, it appears that this book has been largely successful as a result of Elisabeth Porter's generous efforts to build peace and explain how to maintain peace in a very sustainable way.