Decentring Eurocentrism in OSCE’s feminist security policies

Feminist security policies have garnered increased attention within International Relations over the last decade. Despite this trend, the existing literature predominantly focuses on either national or global scales, overlooking the nuances within regional contexts. That is why this paper tackles this research gap with a particular focus on examining the manifestations of Eurocentrism regional security institutions. The analysis anticipates unveiling previously unexplored facets of Eurocentrism within regional security institutions, offering valuable insights for developing more contextually sensitive feminist security policies on an interregional scale. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), characterised by its diverse regional scope, including former Soviet Union countries and those from Northern America, serves as a compelling case study. Its unique institutional context offers the opportunity to illustrate how different Eurocentrisms can unfold in security organisations. The methodology involves a systematic examination of discursive strategies found in official documents, speeches, and public communications. By employing this method, the study seeks to uncover implicit Eurocentric biases within the OSCE's -self-legitimation narratives and establish a clear connection between these narratives and Eurocentrism in the context of regional feminist-informed security policies. By doing so, this research not only advances the comprehension of the complex interplay between Eurocentrism and feminist security theory but also bridges the gap between global and regional perspectives. It contributes significantly to understanding how diverse nuances of Eurocentrism shape geopolitically varied security spaces. Furthermore, the study holds broader implications for policymakers, scholars, and advocates by informing more inclusive and effective approaches to feminist-informed security policies that acknowledge and address diverse Eurocentric influences within regional geopolitical landscapes.