MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS An analysis on the challenges to gender balance in the African Union standby force: A case of the SADC Brigade 2003-2017 BY Grace Mazviita Mwarweye (R174335G) Supervisor Mr Simbarashe Moyo A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Master of Social Science degree in International Affairs, Midlands State University, Harare Campus, Zimbabwe 2018 Approval Form These undersigned certify that they have read and recommended to the Midlands States University for acceptance, a research project entitled, ―An analysis on the challenges to gender balance in the African Union standby force. A case of the SADC Brigade 2003-2017”, submitted by Grace M. Mwarweye in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Master of Science in International Affairs Degree. Supervisor: .............................................................................. Chairperson of the Department: ............................................................................. External Examiner: ........................................................................... Date: .......................................................................... i Release Form Name of Author ........................................................................ Research Title ...................................................................... Degree for which research was presented .................................................................... Year in which the degree was granted ..................................................................... Permission is hereby granted to the Midlands State University Library to reproduce copies of this project and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Signed............................................... Date............................................ ii Declaration I declare that this dissertation- ―An analysis on the challenges to gender balance in the African Union standby force. A case of the SADC Brigade 2003-2017”, is a product of my own independent research work and has not been previously submitted for publication or any other degree programme or examination at any University. I further maintain that all citations, references and borrowed ideas have been duly acknowledged. Grace M. Mwarweye ............................... Date: 09 June 2018 iii Dedications I dedicate this dissertation to my late mother may her soul continue to rest in peace and also to my uncle and aunt, cousins Rufaro, Tafadzwa, Gabriel and Sarah for the endless support throughout my education. iv Table of Contents Approval Form ................................................................................................................................... i Release Form .................................................................................................................................... ii Declaration ....................................................................................................................................... iii Dedications ...................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... viii List of Abbreviations .........................................................................................................................ix Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Background to the study ................................................................................................................ 1 Role of female military in peacekeeping operations ....................................................................... 3 Gender balance in the African Standby Force................................................................................. 6 Gender balance in the SADC Brigade ............................................................................................ 9 Statement of the problem ............................................................................................................. 11 Research Assumptions ................................................................................................................. 11 Preliminary literature review ........................................................................................................ 11 Significance and justification of the study .................................................................................... 13 Research Methodology ................................................................................................................ 14 Research Design .......................................................................................................................... 14 Population ................................................................................................................................... 15 Sample and sampling procedures ................................................................................................. 16 Sampling Procedures ................................................................................................................... 16 Purposive Sampling ..................................................................................................................... 16 Sample Size ................................................................................................................................. 17 Sources of Data ........................................................................................................................... 18 Research Instruments ................................................................................................................... 18 Questionnaires ............................................................................................................................. 18 Secondary Sources....................................................................................................................... 18 Research objectives ..................................................................................................................... 19 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 19 v Sources of data: ........................................................................................................................... 19 Limitations .................................................................................................................................. 20 Delimitations ............................................................................................................................... 21 Outline of chapters ...................................................................................................................... 21 Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter Two: Feminist Paradigm: Liberal Feminism and the Concept of Patriarchy on the Lack of Gender Balance in Military Forces................................................................................................... 22 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 22 Theoretical paradigm ................................................................................................................... 22 Liberal Feminism ........................................................................................................................ 23 Basic tenets of liberal feminism ................................................................................................... 25 Concept of patriarchy .................................................................................................................. 26 Background to the concept of patriarchy ...................................................................................... 27 The Three Abrahamic Faiths ........................................................................................................ 29 Types of Patriarchy ...................................................................................................................... 30 Characteristics of Patriarchy ........................................................................................................ 32 Chapter Three: Tracking gender mainstreaming in the peacekeeping forces ..................................... 34 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 34 Background on