Gender mainstreaming in international security organizations: The case of NATO

This thesis examines the adoption of UNSCR 1325 and implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda by NATO. Within the framework of Feminist Security Studies, it discusses how NATO's integration of a gender-sensitive perspective reflects on the organization's structures and operations and whether the process has led to a transformation of its masculine culture and institutions. Through an extensive overview of NATO reports, news and discussions in the literature about the integration of gender perspective in NATO, the thesis examines both military and civilian /political structure of NATO and finds out that NATO has taken several institutional steps for inclusion of UNSCR 1325 and Women, Peace and Security agenda into its structures. However, it also argues that without a meaningful interpretation of what a gender perspective truly is, the efforts of NATO to implement the UNSCR 1325 and the WPS agenda will stay unfinished. As a conclusion, the thesis asserts the necessity of diminishing the masculine culture in militaries, abstaining from essentialist approaches, increasing efforts to push the WPS agenda commitments of NATO member states as well as increasing the political will and awareness, decreasing the glass ceiling syndrome, and usage of more reliable and standardized tools in order to integrate gender perspectives into military and civilian /political structures of NATO. Keywords: International Security, Gender, NATO, UNSCR 1325