Women Leaders and International Institutions: Unpacking the 'Merkel Myth.

This paper presents a case study of Angela Merkel to explore gendered implications of her security policy over her 16-year tenure, specifically focusing on the widely supported integration of German security with EU and NATO partners, such as the United States. This case study contributes to a growing body of research examining the decision-making strategies and perception of women serving as chief executives in their respective nations. Much of this literature utilizes the framework of the political double-bind, which asserts that women leaders face pressure to fulfill the role of both masculine “leader” and feminine “woman”. This affects the behavior of women executives, as they will often act more masculine when dealing with issues involving the military or security, while acting more feminine when dealing with domestic policy or feminized issues. The double-bind is not easily navigable, as women face issues of role incongruity when dealing with security, facing consequences if they are not “tough” enough or not feminine enough. What happens, however, when women leaders’ security decision-making is subject to long standing influence from international organizations, such as the EU and NATO? In the case of Merkel, I argue that increased constituent support for institutional collaboration, alongside cultural pacifism among many Germans, lessened the pressures of role incongruity/the double bind on Merkel. This allowed Merkel to establish herself as a rational decision-maker in the international arena while also avoiding the violation of gendered stereotypes. This does not mean Merkel escaped gendered criticism, however, as her violation of stereotypes in regards to national security and counterterrorism sometimes resulted in widespread disapproval. I utilize policy analysis, rhetorical analysis, public opinion data, and broader examination of news sources/op eds to conduct this qualitative study. I argue that attention to specific gendered institutional and cultural context is a critical contribution to double-bind research.