23.10.2020

New Publication by Hendrik Quest on Security Sector Reform in Liberia and Changed Masculinities

Hendrik Quest published his article "Reforming Masculinity? The SSR-Induced Change of Violence-Centred Masculinities in the Liberian Security Sector” in the 1/2020 issue of Femina Politica

In the first 2020 issue of Femina Politica, Hendrik Quest published the article “Reforming Masculinity? The SSR-Induced Change of Violence-Centred Masculinities in the Liberian Security Sector”. In this piece, Hendrik addresses the general problem that we still do not know about how peacebuilding efforts affects violence-centered masculinities emerged during armed conflict and analyzes which role security sector reforms (SSR) potentially have on transforming these masculinity constructions. Building on his fieldwork undertaken in Liberia in 2017, Hendrik shows how SSR has changed institutional practices of masculinity within the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the Liberian National Police (LNP). These changes can be seen, first, in the recruitment and increasing valorization of women in both institutions as well as, secondly, in a shift towards citizen orientation which has replaced practices of abusing civilians. Moreover, in the case of the AFL, procedures to prosecute sexual violence were installed. More generally, Hendrik’s findings point to the crucial role that processes of disarmament and demobilisation, vetting, and the development and reinforcement of new institutional cultures via training and legislation play for transforming masculinities.

Quotation: Quest, Hendrik: Reforming Masculinity? The SSR-Induced Change of Violence-Centred Masculinities in the Liberian Security Sector, Femina Politica – Zeitschrift für feministische Politikwissenschaft, 1-2020, S. 39-54.

doi.org/10.3224/feminapolitica.v29i1.04