The Foreign Service Journal, April 2011.Pdf
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A FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR IN YEREVAN I LIGHTING THE YAHRZEIT LAMPS $4.50 / APRIL 2011 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS POWER AND PEACEBUILDING Why Women’s Involvement Matters OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS April 2011 Volume 88, No. 3 F OCUSON Women in Security and Development WHY WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN PEACEBUILDING MATTERS / 17 For the world to move forward on security issues in an effective manner, women will need to play a greater role in the process. By Kathleen Kuehnast CONGO’S REAL CURSE / 22 As in many societies, women are the core and fabric of Congolese society. Damage that fabric and the foundation starts to fall apart. By Maggie K. Fleming THE EMERGENCE OF ISLAMIC FEMINISM / 27 Cover and inside illustrations Just as conservatives have used Islam to hinder women’s empowerment, by Ben Fishman Muslim feminists are using their faith to promote it. photos courtesy of iStockphoto.com By Isobel Coleman COOK STOVES: FROM BANE TO BOON / 33 Today, Indian women have a real chance to improve their lives, PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 thanks to the Global Cook Stove Alliance. Revolutions Test Diplomacy By Satinder Bindra By Susan R. Johnson UNSCR 1325: SLOW PROGRESS, UNCERTAIN PROSPECTS / 36 Women in civil society organizations have done much more than PEAKING UT S O / 13 governments to advance U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325’s goals. Out with the Old, In with the New By John Tirman By Bruce K. Byers REFLECTIONS / 76 The Lights F EATURE By Lee-Alison Sibley AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR IN ARMENIA / 41 There’s never a dull moment during a semester spent teaching at a university in Yerevan. By Rochelle Parks-Yancy LETTERS / 7 CYBERNOTES / 9 MARKETPLACE / 11 BOOKS / 59 IN MEMORY / 61 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 74 APRIL 2011/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S Editor STEVEN ALAN HONLEY A F S A N EWS Senior Editor SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor AFSA RELEASES USAID MEMBER SURVEY RESULTS / 47 SHAWN DORMAN AFSA LAUNCHES ITS NEW WEB SITE! / 47 AFSA News Editor AMY MCKEEVER NEWS BRIEFS / 48 Ad & Circulation Manager ED MILTENBERGER AFSA OFFICER ELECTION NOTICE / 48 Art Director CARYN SUKO SMITH VP STATE: GOOD SUPERVISION LEADS TO A GOOD EER SEASON / 49 Editorial Intern DANIELLE DERBES VP USAID: DIVERSITY AT USAID: WHY SHOULD WE CARE? / 50 Advertising Intern SUSANNE BRANDS VP FAS: FOREIGN SERVICE BUMPER STICKERS / 51 EDITORIAL BOARD TED WILKINSON AFSA ANNOUNCES SINCLAIRE LANGUAGE AWARD WINNERS / 54 Chairman KELLY ADAMS-SMITH THIS MONTH IN DIPLOMATIC HISTORY / 55 JOSEPH BRUNS STEPHEN W. BUCK EVENT CALENDAR/CLASSIFIEDS / 56 JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR MARY E. GLANTZ GEORGE JONES KATE WIEHAGEN LEONARD LYNN ROCHE RACHEL SCHNELLER JAMES P. SEEVERS THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members – $13 included in an- nual dues; others – $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org; www.fsjournal.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2011. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to: AFSA Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street N.W. Washington DC 20037-2990 Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. 4 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/APRIL 2011 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Revolutions Test Diplomacy BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON Shortly after the crisis in Americans expect diplomacy, But military interventions must remain Egypt began to unfold, News- the primary tool of foreign pol- the option of last resort. week magazine asserted that icy, to be equally dynamic and Given the dilemma intrinsic to the President Barack Obama had transformational. divergent pulls of the values we es- blown it, alienating President The overarching consider- pouse, the interests we protect and the Hosni Mubarak and his sup- ations for U.S. diplomacy must various international constraints under porters on one side and the always be our values and our which we operate, the controversy over Egyptian people on the other, espe- interests, but these are sometimes in the American approach to the Egypt- cially the dissatisfied and restive youth. conflict. So it is crucial to balance the ian crisis, and now the Libyan one, is Other analysts hailed him as astute for two elements properly. An increasingly understandable. So is the challenge maintaining a balanced position and important question is how intrusive to and test that our diplomacy faces. not trying — or appearing — to take be in promoting democracy and human Surely, whether in “normal” circum- credit for change that belongs entirely rights, especially in countries that are stances or during crises, we cannot to the Egyptians themselves. These not democracies, whether friendly to us abandon balance and sensitivity to in- two opposing assessments exemplify or not. Can we overstep longstanding ternational norms in our diplomatic how severely revolutionary situations diplomatic norms that proscribe inter- practice. Yet from a broader perspec- test American diplomacy. ference in the internal affairs of other tive, our diplomacy must not stray from There were times when popular up- countries and emphasize respect for our core values, which remain the risings against colonial occupation of- sovereignty? And should we encourage essence of the American vision and our fered a clear choice — side with the destabilizing forces in the name of our global role. This should be the lode- colonial power or support national as- values? There are no simple answers stone for our diplomacy in a fast-chang- pirations for freedom and self-determi- to these questions. ing world where the rules of inter- nation. The moral position was This dilemma becomes sharper in national conduct are also undergoing a unequivocal. As a country itself born of times of crisis, when the arguments for definite, albeit slow, change. revolution, the United States wel- an interventionist approach gain Take, for example, the principle of comed decolonization. But when peo- strength, as the debate over the Libyan national sovereignty. There is dimin- ple rise against authoritarian or dicta- situation demonstrates. We have al- ishing international tolerance for mas- torial systems now, the choice is often ready pushed successfully for United sacres of civilians, and the issue of less clear, and more controversial. Nations sanctions, but what next? intervention in such situations is the Many countries, including Russia, Even if we ultimately favor a military subject of ongoing discussions in inter- China, India, Brazil and some Euro- measure such as a no-fly zone, it will national fora. The very concept of sov- pean states, take the easy way out, have to be preceded by diplomacy to ereignty itself is evolving under the maintaining that these are internal mat- garner international support — the ap- pressures of globalization, information ters and invoking the principle of non- proach President George H.W. Bush flows, democratic aspirations and sup- interference in the internal affairs of pursued so skillfully before launching port for human rights. other countries. But American foreign Operation Desert Storm during the I invite your contributions and com- policy aspires to be proactive, and first Persian Gulf War 20 years ago. ments at [email protected]. I APRIL 2011/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 LETTERS A Pool of Talent I would add that my grandfather ice officers from 31 to 59. The result is I read with great interest AFSA and father may well be the only father- embassy staffs with few or no diplomats President Susan Johnson’s article, son team to be declared persona non even close to the ages of this fast-rising “Time for the Foreign Service Reserve grata, a distinction often referred to as “successor generation” in the Middle Corps,” that appeared in the January the Order of the Raspberry — at least East, Africa, Latin America and much issue of the Foreign Service Journal. in Chapin family dinner-table conver- of Asia. I have long felt that we have a gi- sation! The Foreign Service should be a ca- gantic waste of talent in this country be- Edith C. Chapin reer service, as is the military, with offi- cause of not using the professional skills Washington, D.C. cers entering in their 20s and gaining, of people who are retired — often all by the time they are 45 to 50, the too early. I once made a proposal to Justly Complimentary breadth of geographic and professional rectify this that would operate on a gov- I just read your FS Heritage profile experience required of our senior ernmentwide basis, but I would heartily of my grandfather, Selden Chapin, and diplomats. Officers who are already subscribe to something that dealt only am thrilled by it. Jack Binns’ article was middle-aged when entering the For- with the State Department. complete, well-written and justly com- eign Service will only rarely gain com- George P.