Gender, Military Effectiveness, and Organizational Change The Swedish Model

In October 2000, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1325 which reaffirmed the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts as well as in post-conflict reconstruction. Since the resolution was passed, the Swedish Armed Forces have gone through an impressive process of change that has set the agenda for instituting Resolution 1325 in militaries throughout the world. What began as a project of limited scope within the Swedish armed forces has steadily evolved to mainstream a gender perspective, conduct training, and to establish specific gender-related functions and institutions such as Gender Field Advisors, Gender Focal Points and the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations.

Through extensive interviews and analyses of internal documents, this study provides a unique understanding of these organizational processes, the driving factors and the roadblocks within the armed forces, as well as the impact of a gender perspective in the field of operations. This insight, and the resulting lessons learned, is not only essential for the continued process of implementation in the Swedish case, but also for similar processes in the armed forces and other security related organizations around the world.

Robert Egnell is Visiting Professor and Director of Teaching in the Security Studies Program, Georgetown University, USA. He is the author of Counterinsurgency in crisis: Britain and the challenges of modern warfare (2013), and Complex peace operations and civil-military relations: Winning the peace (2009).

Petter Hojem is a project leader at Centre for Business and Policy Studies (SNS) in Stockholm, Sweden.

Hannes Berts is a founding partner and senior consultant of Sthlm Policy Group. He has extensive experience in policy advice, research and evaluation with a primary focus on international peace and security, international law, humanitarian assistance, human rights and democracy.

1. Introduction: The Accomplishments and the Challenges
2. Gender, Feminism, and Military Effectiveness
3. Changing the Armed Forces
4. A Gender Perspective in the Field of Operations
5. Recruitment, Harassment, and Equal Rights: The Rights-based Processes
6. Evaluating the Process and Impact of Change
7. Conclusion: Improving and Spreading the Implementation