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international

excerpt from today’s con ict resolution textbook. across all regions, countries and cultures. e
But male experts are normally cited as “the digital age, some believe, might lead to the
founders of con ict resolution.” And World War real “collapse of contexts,” making the story
I victors agreed on a “negotiated end” of the war of women in diplomacy, peacemaking and
with no mention of the woman peace delegations. statecra more universal -- multi-civilizational
It’s not the rst or the last time that women’s role in and kaleidoscopic. Amidst today’s theatric shi
the history of war, peace and diplomacy has been of the global order, the history of women in
absent and diluted – or distorted. diplomacy continues to evolve despite seismic
challenges to multilateralism.
e core historical narrative of international
politics, experts say, “remains notably depleted of As a multilateral body, the United Nations (UN)
women.” e good news: Today, more experts have now sees diplomats, junior and high-up, and
started their myth-busting operations to rewrite nongovernmental advocates, men and women,
the story of women in diplomacy, peacemaking, young and older, from 193 countries of diverse
politics and trade. Beyond the trans-Atlantic cultures, reshaping the women-in-diplomacy
world, certain revisionist historians now argue history while rede ning “diplomacy” with these
that prior to the European colonial quest, the three main narratives.
political systems and traditions in some regions
of the world were matriarchal, with countless First, it’s no longer the history of women, but of
female leaders in diplomacy, politics and trade. humankind, men and women. Why? Because
the future of peace and humanity depends on it,
An example: When Chinese, European and proponents say. e world that refuses to bene t
Persian traders reached the Kingdom of from the talents of half of its population, or some
Ayutthaya, or today’s ailand, from the 14 th four billion men and four billion women, cannot
to 18 century, they were rather surprised - overcome today’s transnational challenges or
th
- and seemingly annoyed -- to nd that their move towards sustainable development and
counterparts were women, with whom they had peace, gender advocates argue. “Investing in
to negotiate trades and navigate local politics. women is investing in peace. Empowering women
“All the a airs are managed by their wives, they is empowering prosperity for all,” said Retno
all follow the decisions of their wives because the Marsudi, Indonesia’s former Foreign Minister
mental capacity of their wives certainly exceeds and career diplomat. With social media as the
that of a man,” said Chris Baker, an expert tail wind for public diplomacy, today’s gender
on ailand’s history, recounting a Chinese agenda is cross-regional, intergenerational and
th
diplomate’s record of the 15 century Ayutthaya’s gender inclusive, for both women and men.
custom. Certain experts maintain that in the Men’s role is critical in the pursuit of women’s
diverse region of pre-colonial Southeast Asia, rights, advocates say.
there were more than 200-woman political rulers
in di erent kingdoms and empires. e gender narratives now highlight the
indispensable roles of feminist fathers, brothers and
Some historians now believe women in certain colleagues who push the gender equality agenda
parts of Africa and Asia were movers and forward in their homes, communities and nations
shakers in international relations long before across the globe. “My brother helped inspire me,”
the creation of Enlightenment political thoughts said 10-years-old Ishani Desai, following her essay
and “the world order.” Others disagree. Many reading on this year’s International Women’s Day,
agrarian societies in Africa and Asia, they argue, 8 March, in the UN General Assembly (UNGA)
have been male- dominated. Both arguments Hall. “In the future generations,” she hopes, “more
may be right, depending on the period they girls will be able to become leaders. and “they will
begin the women-in-diplomacy story. For now, not only be someone in the world but powerful
most experts agree on one thing: e narratives change-makers in every eld.” More woman
on the history of women in diplomacy have been diplomats now opine that while other woman
“Euro-centric.” diplomats or “strong women” in their families
have been their role models, their male mentors’
e world has yet to come up with a new version support, in the family or at work, are pivotal for
of women-in-diplomacy history that truly cuts their career advancement.

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