Gender Research and the Study of Institutional Transfer and Norm Transmission

Abstract

Gender researchers have highlighted the role of transnational feminist networks across the twentieth century in the international diffusion of the suffrage, gender quotas, gender mainstreaming institutions and anti-violence against women norms. By contrast with conventional analysis, they have studied the diffusion of norms and policies as a dynamic and contested process involving the transformation of the networks as well as the norms and policies they promote. Addressing the practical challenges in researching these networks, feminist political scientists have developed innovative methods to conceptualise networks, evaluate their impact and operationalise their influence on institutional outcomes. The UN Women, Peace and Security agenda serves as a contemporary example to illustrate how we study the dynamism of transnational feminist networks and their effects on international norms.