How Political is Sexual Violence? Consequences and Responses

Abstract

This is the second of two linked panels on approaches in political science and related disciplines towards Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) In conflict studies, the discussion presently revolves around the causes of CRSV. While in the 1990s, a rational-choice explanation of "rape as a weapon of war" has become popular, more recently the explanatory power of this approach has been put into question. Perhaps, it is argued, conflict-related sexual violence should rather be seen as a continuum of civilian gender relations. Such approaches would relate CRSV more closely to debates on SGBV in more peaceful settings. In countries such as the United Kingdom, India, Germany and the USA, debates have primarily centered on culturally determined gender relations. However, how political are such cultural explanations? Which political strategies result from these debates? Which contribution can the social sciences make in these debates?