Global: Gendered Autocratization as a global challenge

Autocratic leaders around the world are increasingly using gender as a tool for strengthening their grip on power. This is often framed as a crusade against liberal "gender ideology"- which is a shorthand for efforts to advance gender equality; lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) rights; rights to abortion and reproductive health services and protection against gender-based violence. Portrayed as defense of tradition, religion, culture, national sovereignty and the natural family, anti-gender mobilization, it resonates with public opinion in many societies, and has become a favored and very effective means to rally support. This has enabled the passing of restrictive laws, not only against individuals engaging in "immoral" activities (such as abortion or consensual sex between persons of the same gender), but also large parts of civil society, restricting criticism and opposition. We see this trend most clearly across the African and American continents, in Eastern Europe and the Muslim world, but it is also visible in some Asian and Western European countries.  This course discusses what drives this trend, what the effects are, and how it should be addressed.    

The course consists of the following components:

1. Student-led moderated seminar discussions
2. Guest lectures
3. Group work
4. Reflection notes

A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student knows

• major debates and developments on the gendered dynamics of autocratization
• how gender and sexual and reproductive rights form part of autocratic policies across the globe

Skills

The student can

• evaluate, synthesize, and critically appraise existing social science research on the politics of autocratization and sexual and reproductive rights as global challenges
• develop and apply their own conceptual-analytical approach to the politics and governance of gendered autocratization
• identify and analyse relevant empirical cases of how gender rights are interwoven with processes of autocratization.

General competence

The student can

• identify and present complex and intersecting processes linking gender, sexuality and autocratization in a nuanced and critical manner
• present, discuss and defend independent arguments about scholarly readings and empirical phenomena in dialogue with peers
• structure and moderate group discussions in an inclusive manner.