Feminists against NATO
an article by kristine karch in the newspaper Newspaper_Europe_in_the_NATO_Strategy.pdf
Women around the world are fighting for equal rights, against violence, suppression and exclusion. In the analysis of the causes of war feminists identify the patriarchy – the dominance of masculine values within society – along with the power structures of capitalism, racism and militarism as the driving forces. Male values which are close-knitted to hierarchy, rivalry and competition result in consequential violence. So called female values like concern and reconciliation are not considered.
The attribution of values is not justified biologically, but is generated through society. If we want to battle war and militarism we have to analyze these power structures and gender relations as a whole in their complexity and with their dependencies and we are obliged to unveiling the inherent violence that starts with domestic violence, continues on the streets, does not spare nature and ends in wars under which all humankind suffers.
With its new strategy NATO as a military and war alliance supports EU militarism and reproduces patriarchal structures of power. The implementation of the UN Resolution 1325 (to women, peace and security) does not change anything about it because NATO does not tackle the causes of violence, militarism and patriarchy but ties in women into their war activities. The images of Abu Grahib demonstrate the harmful influence these structures have on women. If NATO would be seriously interested in women‘s rights, in peace and security they would have to abolish NATO immediately. As the war in Afghanistan shows women‘s rights cannot be „bombed“ into a country. War enforces patriarchal power structures and leads to a loss of already fought-for women`s rights.
Kristine Karch, No to War – No to NATO women’s network, INES