Abstract
ABSTRACT This article explores alliance behaviour among female insurgents. I argue that interethnic cooperation among women affiliated with different ethnic armed groups is affected by whether women share a commitment to gender egalitarianism and the level of repression they face from their male co-ethnics. Building on previous research, I create a typology of women’s alliance behaviour that explains variation in the level of cooperation and the type of alliance women form. I disaggregate gender egalitarianism along three dimensions – shared victimhood, promotion of gender equality and linkages to civil society – to show how women overcome mistrust to create social bonds. Using the case of the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO), I demonstrate that even in the face of repression, once these bonds are created, they are unlikely to break down. This study adds to research highlighting the role of repression in driving wartime alliances.
Published Version
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