Rebel Women in the Civil War Peace Process with Jakana Thomas, University of California San Diego
In this talk, based on her forthcoming articles in the Journal of Politics and the American Political Science Review, Jakana Thomas—Associate Professor in the School of Global Policy and Strategy and Department of Political Science at the University of California San Diego—studies how rebel women shape the path to peace during civil wars. Her research examines the relationship between women’s participation in rebellion and the incidence of negotiations and finds that gender-diverse rebel groups appeal for peace talks more often and are more likely to be seated at the bargaining table. Her research also investigates rebel women’s roles in encouraging gender-inclusive peace terms. She shows that rebel women have a discernible impact on the specific provisions that are included in civil war peace agreements. This broader project underscores why it is important to consider the role of rebel women in encouraging inclusive and lasting peace.