Peer Reviewed Articles: Kreutzer, Willow, Carly Millerd, and Nathan Timbs. “Disasters and the Diminishing of Women’s Economic Empowerment.” Disasters n/a(n/a). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/disa.12582 This paper examines, both theoretically and empirically, the relationship between rapid-onset disasters and women's economic freedom. Rapid-onset disasters create difficulties for all involved, but without proper discussion of and changes to women's economic status in society, they will continue to suffer disproportionately. The study answers the following question: ‘how do disasters impact women's economic empowerment?‘. It argues that there are underlying factors contributing to unequal economic opportunities that are exacerbated by disasters. Current literature discusses how disasters affect women's economic and political rights, but often it does not account for variables that may not have been captured in contemporary indices. The paper assesses women's burden of care, restrictions on mobility, formal economic employment, and access to recovery resources with respect to their economic empowerment. And it analyses 180 countries and territories that experienced disasters between 1981 and 2019 to uncover their effects on women's economic freedom. This research could facilitate and help to alter the overall narrative on women's empowerment.
Millerd, Carly. "Peaceful Dispute Resolution through Gender-Dense International Organizations.” International Interactions. 49(6). 845-874.DOI: 10.1080/03050629.2023.2277959. Abstract: How does the gender density of an international organization affect its members’ willingness to engage in non-violent dispute resolution? Many scholars have devoted time and energy to determine whether international organizations promote or prevent peace without fully considering the characteristics of the organizations themselves. In this study, I argue that international organizations in which the average gender-equality of member states is high, “densely-gender equal IOs,” are more likely to mitigate conflict among member states. Highly gender-equal states are more likely to ‘demand’ and utilize conflict resolution mechanisms provided by these densely gender-equal IOs. Densely gender-equal IOs are also more likely to ‘supply’ better dispute mechanisms and influence the behavior of states in which peaceful conflict resolution is not a norm. These effects are a result of norm diffusion of peaceful dispute resolution through repeated interactions with gender-equal states in international organizations. I test these arguments using an aggregated measure of gender-equality of the IO and find support for both of my main arguments.
Articles Under Review: Mitchell, Sara, Elise Pizzi, Carly Millerd, and Jeongo Choi. “Does Government Response to Natural Disasters Explain Violence? The Case of the Sendero Luminoso and Conflict in Peru.”
Articles in Progress: Millerd, Carly. “Leveraging Connections: The Impact of Networks of Women’s Civil Society Organizations on Post-Conflict Institutions.” Abstract: How do networks of women’s civil society organizations influence women’s rights in post-conflict institutions? In this paper, I examine how women who have been excluded from formal peace negotiation process make their demands for post-conflict society known. Using a networks approach, I argue that there are three components of a women’s civil society organization network that influence how this network conveys their demands to bargaining parties – size, density, and strength of ties between organizations. The bigger, more connected, and more frequently the actors collaborate, the more effectively the network is able to pressure bargaining combatants. I further argue that there must be a third party mediator involved who is receptive to the groups’ demands and plays the role of an information broker between the network and the negotiating parties. Using Nepal as a case study, I find evidence for my theory. The network of women’s civil society, along with the mediator Günther Baechler, was successful in getting gender considerations included in both the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Interim Constitution that arose out of the initial agreement.
Sellers, Hatti and Carly Millerd. “Why Include Women? How women’s presence at peace negotiations can establish a durable positive peace.” This paper explores the crucial role of women’s participation in peace talks as a catalyst for preventing conflict recurrence and fostering positive peace. While the concept of negative peace, or the absence of violence, has traditionally dominated peacebuilding efforts, this paper highlights the significance of women’s presence in peace talks to foster conditions that enable sustainable peace. Using data from Gender PA-X to measure women’s presence in the peace process and various measures of positive peace, we examine how women can contribute to the implementation of positive peace, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying causes of conflict, such as social justice, human rights, gender equality, and inclusive governance. We build on prior scholarship that finds women have a significant impact on establishing a durable peace but extend the scope to incorporate those elements of positive peace that have been previously overlooked. Rather than focusing on immediately stability, we argue that women’s inclusion in the peace process signals a commitment to rearranging social structures that allow for a more enduring peace. By analyzing the impact of women’s presence in peace talks through the lens of positive peace, this paper underscores the necessity of gender-inclusive approaches in preventing conflict recurrence.
Millerd, Carly. “Union is Strength:” The Impact of Women’s Civil Society Organizations on the Inclusion of Women’s Rights in Post-War Institutions.” Abstract: How do women’s civil society organizations interact with the United Nations to ensure women’s rights are included in post-civil war institutions? I argue that the peace negotiations set the stage for women’s rights to be incorporated in institutions such as peace agreements and constitutions. When countries have a strong women’s civil society movement, these organizations can raise awareness for women’s demands and put pressure on the United Nations to push for the inclusion of women’s rights into post-war constitutions. In turn, United Nations representatives strongly encourage constitution writers to follow through with the promises of gender considerations made in the peace agreement. I evaluate these arguments using process tracing of Burundi’s civil war and the subsequent peace process. I find that the strong women’s civil society movement, along with their partnership with the United Nations, were able to influence the content of the final peace agreement and constitution. However, while political rights are included in the Burundi constitution, social and economic rights are not.
Millerd, Carly. “Making a Fuss: The Effects of Gender-Egalitarian Attitudes on Women's Participation in Disruptive Politics"