Women and War in the 21st Century: A Country-by-Country Guide

(Hardback)

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Description

Twenty-three countries currently allow women to serve in front-line combat positions and others with a high likelihood of direct enemy contact. This book examines how these decisions did or did not evolve in 47 countries. This timely and fascinating book explores how different countries have determined to allow women in the military to take on combat roleswhether out of a need for personnel, a desire for the military to reflect the values of the society, or the opinion that women improve military effectivenessor, in contrast, have disallowed such a move on behalf of the state. In addition, many countries have insurgent or dissident factions, in that have led armed resistance to state authority in which women have been present, requiring national militaries and peacekeepers to engage them, incorporate them, or disarm and deradicalize them. This country-by country analysis of the role of women in conflicts includes insightful essays on such countries as Afghanistan, China, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Russia, and the United States. Each essay provides important background information to help readers to understand the cultural and political contexts in which women have been integrated into their countries' militaries, have engaged in combat during the course of conflict, and have come to positions of political power that affect military decisions.

Reviews

Entries are well written and organized well. They provide historical contexts for women in war in the twenty-first century and offer adequate overviews of pertinent topics. . . .a good introduction to the topic and is recommended for public, school, and academic libraries. * ARBA *
uncovers the complex consequences of war on women's lives, and Sankey is careful to balance the progressive aspects of women's military service with war's capability to destroy women's lives. * H-Net Book Review *

Author Bio

Margaret D. Sankey, PhD, is director of research and electives at the United States Air Force Air War College, Maxwell AFB.