Gender and Foreign Policy: The Role of Female Foreign Policy Elites in International Conflict

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Morris, Savannah
Area of Honors:
Political Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Lee Ann Banaszak, Thesis Supervisor
Michael Barth Berkman, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
gender and conflict
foreign policy elites
women elites
critical mass
international conflict
women foreign policy
Abstract:
This study examines how the share of women in elite foreign policy positions influences a state’s propensity to initiate conflict. While existing research has largely focused on political leaders, this study shifts attention to foreign policy elites: ministers, advisors, and cabinet members who play a central role in shaping foreign policy decisions. Prior research offers mixed expectations: greater female representation may reduce conflict due to preferences for cooperation and diplomacy, and conversely other perspectives suggest women may adopt more aggressive policies to counter gender stereotypes in male dominated security environments. I use a cross-national time-series dataset of 177 countries from 1992 to 2014 to examine how variation in the proportion of female foreign policy elites affects the initiation of militarized interstate disputes. In addition to a continuous measure of female representation, I explore whether higher levels of inclusion produce stronger effects, consistent with a critical mass dynamic. The findings indicate that greater female representation in foreign policy elites is associated with lower levels of conflict initiation. Furthermore, the results suggest that this relationship becomes more pronounced at higher levels of female inclusion, beyond the critical mass threshold. By examining foreign policy elites rather than leaders, this study contributes to broader debates in international relations - highlighting how representation within cabinet and foreign policy institutions affects conflict behavior. Who sits at the foreign policy table may ultimately influence whether states choose peace or violence.