在1980年代女性主義成爲國際關係研究的新課題之一,雖學界著述相當多,但也產生若干誤解,包含以蒐集婦女地位之文獻企圖來提昇婦女的地位,認爲婦女愛好和平與排除暴力,以及凸顯婦女問題會忽略國際關係之議題。女性主義的理論家,對此提出回應,認爲漠視性別的後設敘述,造成上下不平等的統屬關係。此外,此一誤會更彰顯婦女社經地位的低劣與貧窮。其實國關和世界政治是建立在男性與女性相互依存的基礎之上,女性在國際關係中不僅不缺席,還扮演幕後的角色。再者,認同政治也不是男人的專擅,女性在權力運作中並不屈服於宰制之下;相反的,她們在過去的社會運動中也曾以行動表示不滿,例如反對奴隸販賣和男女的不平等。由於忽視婦女的地位,任由男人主宰國政與國關,遂引發貧窮、疾病,乃至於戰爭,而造成婦女經常成爲戰爭、疾病、飢餓的受害者。女性主義的國際關係之流派,包含自由的女性主義、批判的女性主義、後殖民的女性主義等。全球化加深男女不平等的地位,對其研究不宜只限於數量分析,還應當採取田野調查等質化的研究方法,才能收相輔相成之效。
This article deals with the feminist challenge of the male-dominant, mainstream conceptualization of contemporary world politics and global economy. The feminist worldview contests the sole legitimacy of conventional ”male-stream” theory within IR scholarship. The feminists appeal for dialogue and co-operation between the theoreticians of both sex, despite their different approach to domestic and international problems of power, interest, security, and the distribution of resources as well as other IR relevant issues. This treatise then briefly discusses the various schools of liberal, critical and postcolonial feminism. Since feminist epistemology and methodology are considered unique and distinguished from the traditional way of research, the essay finally touches on them in brief. In conclusion feminists' attempts to assert their position within the IR scholarship and their original and novel contribution to our understanding of world affairs are positively evaluated.