Globalization and Militarism: Feminists Make the Link

By Cynthia Enloe

Book Overview

Militarism is being globalized today not only in war zones such as Ukraine and Syria, but in "peaceful" arenas such as families and football stadiums. Ideas and practices of masculinities and femininities are fuel for this global militarization. Who is presumed to be "weak" and who "tough"? Who is the "protector, who the "grateful protected"? Written by one of the world's leading feminist scholars, this masterful and provocative newly updated edition tracks how women's desires to be patriotic yet feminine and men's fears of being feminized each have been exploited to globalize militarism--and thus what it will take to roll back militarization anywhere. Here are explorations of how governments shrink the meaning of "national security," how Nike and Adidas rely on militaries to keep women workers' wages low, how ideas about feminization were used to humiliate male prisoners in Abu Ghraib, and of why "camo" became a fashion statement. Cynthia Enloe offers readers a practical gender analysis tool kit with which to expose militarism's blatant and subtle workings. Focusing her lens on the "big picture" of international politics and on the not-so-small picture of women's and men's complex everyday lives, Enloe challenges us to chart militarism in all its forms in this updated edition.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1442265442
• ISBN13: 9781442265448
• Release Date: March 2016
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Excellent

Cynthia Enloe is one of the best feminist international relations scholars in North America. Once again she has written a much needed timely volume. Enloe's writing is engaging and never filled with too much academese, so that the lay audience and academics alike can enjoy her books. This book deals with the connections between globalization and militarism. Each chapter sheds light on this insipid connection. The chapter I enjoyed most dealt with the consumer fascination of camo. Do you wear camo? How have we normalized camouflage and militarism by wearing camo pants to work/school? Is this "normal"? Enloe asks the reader to be curious and ask questions. I have found that the lower division women's studies students really dig her work and this book has been no exception. I've also used excerpts of this book in one of my Political Science courses, and again, the students enjoyed the reading.