Feminists Theorize the State

Where is feminist state theory today? This book offers novel insights into social science debates by analyzing feminist theories of the state. It argues that we need feminist tools for analyzing states and focuses on two debates, domestic violence and childcare, as areas where feminists discursively construct the state. These themes are developed within a comparative perspective. Focusing on devolution in Scotland and the European Union, the book further explores how feminist state theories conceive multi-level governance.

JOHANNA KANTOLA is a Research Fellow in the Political Science Department, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Gender and the State: Theories and Debates * Feminist Comparative Discourse Analysis * Feminists 'in' the State? Childcare Debates in Finland * Feminists 'out' of the State? Domestic Violence Debates in Britain * Comparisons of Feminist Discourses about the State * Gender, State and New Institutions * New Directions for Feminist State Theory Gender and the State: Theories and Debates * Feminist Comparative Discourse Analysis * Feminists 'in' the State? Childcare Debates in Finland * Feminists 'out' of the State? Domestic Violence Debates in Britain * Comparisons of Feminist Discourses about the State * Gender, State and New Institutions * New Directions for Feminist State Theory