Peacebuilding through Jus Post Bellum : the case of gender apartheid in Afghanistan

Abstract

Following the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban rapidly returned to power, and the reinstatement of a gender apartheid regime swiftly undermined decades of peacebuilding efforts. This study examines the extent to which peacebuilding processes within Afghanistan contributed to the return of gender apartheid. It addresses a critical gap in both peacebuilding and jus post bellum literature regarding gender.

Utilising jus post bellum as a theoretical framework, this research analyses the peacebuilding initiatives implemented by the United States in Afghanistan from March 2002 to August 2021. The study adopts Larry May's six primary norms of jus post bellum, namely: rebuilding, retribution, reconciliation, restitution, reparation and proportionality. The study evaluates whether these peacebuilding processes adequately considered gender throughout their implementation. This study adopts a qualitative case study approach, employing secondary sources analysis and thematic analysis. This research investigates the relationship between liberal peacebuilding approaches and women's rights within the Afghan context.

The study argues that both peacebuilding and jus post bellum literature suffer from the same fundamental gap: the neglect of gender as a vital dimension in theory and practice. Furthermore, it demonstrates that peacebuilding itself is a gendered process, with the Afghan case serving as a prime example of how the exclusion of gender considerations can undermine long-term peace and stability. The research reveals that despite two decades of international intervention, insufficient attention was paid to ensuring gender-sensitive approaches within peacebuilding structures. This contributed to the vulnerability of women's rights upon the Taliban's return.

This study contributes to peacebuilding literature by highlighting the interconnectedness of jus post bellum, peacebuilding phenomena, and women's rights. It emphasises the necessity of incorporating gender into debates surrounding peacebuilding whilst demonstrating how the absence of gender considerations in peacebuilding initiatives can lead to devastating consequences for vulnerable populations, particularly women.