Dissertation
“We demanded, we raised our voices”: women’s civil society organization cooperation in civil wars
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Summer 2025
DOI: 10.25820/etd.008112
Abstract
Under what conditions does cooperation between women’s civil society organizations (WCSOs) emerge? Further, once networks of WCSOs are formed, what structural characteristics of these networks facilitate the groups’ ability to shape the contents of peace agreements? This dissertation answers these questions through a mixed-methodological approach. I argue that the emergence of cooperation between WCSOs to make demands of combatants can be explained by two main factors. First, the relative openness of the gendered political opportunity structure (the ability for women to participate in civil society) pre-war and positive changes to it during war allows women to form relationships that are integral for groups to come together in times of extreme duress. Second, the gendered threat environment (dangers and consequences of these dangers that are distinctly gendered) creates grievances upon which women can mobilize. Using original event-level data on all civil wars from 1989-2020, I demonstrate that more open opportunity structures pre-conflict and increases in this openness due to the conflict increase the likelihood that women’s groups work together. I also find that heightened sexual violence and increasing battle deaths catalyze cooperation to make explicit demands of combatants.
Sometimes, these events may lead to more extensive forms of cooperation through the formation of a network. I argue that the dimensions of these networks of WCSOs are important for women’s demands to be included in peace agreements. In particular, I argue that the size of the network matters for demonstrating widespread support for demands while strength (repeated and high-commitment forms of collaboration) represents unity among the WCSOs. Coupled with connections to a supportive political actor and women in the peace agreement negotiations, these characteristics will lead to more inclusive peace agreements. I collect information on the dimensions of women’s networks in 15 countries and find that, while size and strength matter for demand inclusion, connections to other women who are involved in the peace negotiations is more important than connections to a generally supportive actor.
Finally, to illustrate how my proposed mechanisms function in a conflict, I conduct 19 Key Informant Interviews with women leaders from Nepali civil society who were active during the civil war (1996-2006). These interviews suggest that prior relationship building helped WCSOs form the umbrella network Shanti Malika during war while highly gendered conflict impacts generated the necessary grievances for further action. Though the organizations that comprised Shanti Malika frequently acted together and drew in support from other women’s groups, they failed to make an impact on the peace agreement. This may be due to the highly patriarchal society in which they were working and somewhat negative perceptions of the network itself. My dissertation demonstrates that, under the right conditions and with the right combination of network characteristics, women’s organizations can and do cooperate to make their demands heard and acknowledged.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- “We demanded, we raised our voices”: women’s civil society organization cooperation in civil wars
- Creators
- Carly Millerd
- Contributors
- Sara Mitchell (Advisor)Elizabeth Menninga (Committee Member)Tracy Osborn (Committee Member)Miriam Anderson (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Political Science
- Date degree season
- Summer 2025
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.008112
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xvi, 169 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Carly Millerd
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 06/05/2025
- Description illustrations
- Illustrations, graphs, charts, tables
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 150-161).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
This dissertation examines two questions about how women s organizations work together during civil wars. I first ask, what leads to women s cooperation during war? I argue that women s opportunities to participate in civil society prior to conflict and an increased ability to participate in organizations during conflict improve the likelihood that women s organizations begin working together. I also argue that violence against women and violence that affects communities also mobilizes groups to cooperate. Using original data, I demonstrate support for these arguments. These cooperative events can lead to women s groups forming a network to advocate for a shared cause. My second question then asks, how do the relationships between women s organizations in networks affect their ability to influence the content of peace agreements? I find that networks with a greater number of organizations and more extensive cooperation between these groups are important conditions for women s demands to be included in peace agreements. I argue that individuals who are supportive of these women s networks will also be a required condition for success. I find that networks connections to women who are involved in peace negotiations and support from international actors are necessary for women s voices to be heard. Finally, I use interviews with leaders of women s civil society organizations active during Nepal s civil war (1996-2006) to illustrate how women s networks navigate conflict environments and exclusive peace processes. These interviews help promote a richer understanding the barriers and pathways to more inclusive peace agreements.
- Academic Unit
- Political Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984948540402771
Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
6 Record Views