Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Rethinking Masculinities: Ideology, Identity and Change in the People’s War in Nepal and its Aftermath (Men and Masculinities in a Transnational World)

Masculinity associated with armed groups tends to be built on assumptions of violence and insecurity. Rethinking Masculinities: Ideology, Identity and Change in the People's War in Nepal and Its Aftermath, however, examines other ways in which the experience of participation in an armed group may impact on notions of masculinity held by low-ranking male combatants, both during conflict and in its aftermath. Using the case of Nepal, this book explores how men of the People's Liberation Army experienced and engaged with an ideology espoused by the leadership that was more gender-positive than what existed in broader Nepali society. Focusing on masculinity change across four different time frames: (1) pre-conflict, (2) conflict time, (3) the cantonment period, and (4) post-conflict - Heidi Riley's analysis pays close attention to changes in attitudes towards gender specific roles and conduct, as well as perceptions of gender hierarchies. Building on feminist and masculinities literature, Rethinking Masculinities also makes a vital contribution to broader peace and conflict scholarship on insurgency, rebel recruitment, and demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration (DDR). The book exposes how masculinity change is not straightforward but influenced by both past and present, which leads to contradiction and continuity in a post-conflict context. About the Author Heidi Riley is Assistant Professor in International Relations in the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin. She is also a member of the UCD GLOBUS research team that examines European contributions to global justice. Heidi's main research area is in gender and armed conflict, with a particular focus on the interaction between ideology and masculinity within non-state armed groups, and the implications of this for women during and after conflict. As a secondary research area she also works on issues of negotiated settlement, with a focus on women's participation in international peace mediation. Teaching areas include: International Relations: Theory and Practice, Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Gender Studies, and Qualitative Methods. Heidi holds a PhD from University College Dublin, an MPhil in International Peace Studies from Trinity College Dublin, and an MA Honours in International Relations from the University of Edinburgh. She is the winner of the Conflict Research Society, Cedric Smith Prize (2017) and the International Studies Association, Feminist Theory and Gender Studies Graduate paper award (2018). In addition she was awarded the Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship for her PhD research. Aside from academic credentials, Heidi previously worked for the Conflict Resolution Unit at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where she was part of the team implementing the Irish National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325. In addition, she has worked for a variety of Irish human rights NGOs including, Front Line Defenders and Ruhama. Her early career began in the production and technical side of the performing arts in the UK, where she worked for a variety of national and regional theatre, opera and dance companies, touring both nationally and internationally. As a result she is a strong advocate for the use of the arts in conflict resolution.