Manly States

by Charlotte Hooper

Much has been written on how masculinity shapes international relations, but little feminist scholarship has focused on how international relations shape masculinity. Charlotte Hooper draws from feminist theory to provide an account of the relationship between masculinity and power. She explores how the theory and practice of international relations produces and sustains masculine identities and masculine rivalries.

This volume asserts that international politics shapes multiple masculinities rather than one static masculinity, positing an interplay between a "hegemonic masculinity" (associated with elite, western male power) and other subordinated, feminized masculinities (typically associated with poor men, nonwestern men, men of color, and/or gay men). Employing feminist analyses to confront gender-biased stereotyping in various fields of international political theory―including academic scholarship, journals, and popular literature like The Economist ―Hooper reconstructs the nexus of international relations and gender politics during this age of globalization.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Politics

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Scott Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very insightful examination of the role masculinities have in shaping international relations, and how the exercise of power on the global stage feeds back into the evolution of competing masculinities. The work is methodical and clear. While I am not involved in IR or academic feminism, I found this book provided a great deal of food for thought.