Building Better Peace
I am a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at La Trobe University.
My research focuses on civil wars and peace processes, in particular, how the international community supports societies as they move from war towards peace, and why these processes often fail to establish stable peace. I'm particularly interested in the negotiation of power during these processes, the role of non-state actors and women, and how the assumptions and behaviours of international interveners affects their capacity and credibility in the countries in which they work.
My first book, "Why Peace Processes Fail: Negotiating Insecurity After Civil War" was published in 2015 by Lynne Rienner Publishers. My second book, "Violating Peace: Sex, Aid and Peacekeeping" was published in 2020 with Cornell University Press.
Books
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Why peace processes fail: negotiating insecurity after civil war
Why do so many post–civil war societies continue to be characterized by widespread violence and political instability? Or, more succinctly, why do peace processes so often fail to consolidate peace? Addressing this question, Dr Jasmine Westendorf explores how the international community engages in resolving civil wars—and clarifies why, despite the best of intentions and the investment of significant resources, external actors fail in their reconstruction efforts and even contribute to perpetuating the very conditions of insecurity and conflict that they are trying to alleviate.
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Violating Peace: Sex, Aid, and Peacekeeping
Dr Jasmine Westendorf's discomforting book investigates sexual misconduct by military peacekeepers and abuses perpetrated by civilian peacekeepers and non-UN civilian interveners. Based on extensive field research in Bosnia, Timor-Leste, and with the UN and humanitarian communities, she uncovers a brutal truth about peacebuilding as she investigates how such behaviors affect the capacity of the international community to achieve its goals related to stability and peacebuilding, and its legitimacy in the eyes of local and global populations.
"Even if there’s no war raging, there are many places where people can’t live with dignity, human rights, or access to health and education." - Dr Jasmine-Kim Westendorf
Get in touch
I've published a range of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters that explore a few key themes: the role of the international community in peace processes in civil wars, issues of women, peace and security; and sexual exploitation and abuse in peace operations.
I have also made numerous media appearances discussing peace and post conflict issues.
I am available for expert consultancy, media comment, and graduate supervision, and I love opportunities to collaborate with others (either in academia or outside).
Latest from Twitter
LSE Fellow in Gender Studies vacancy 😊 https://jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/1956/0/359742/15539/lse-fellow-in-gender-studies
Layan died alone in a hospital in Jerusalem. No family at her side. No mother or father holding her hand.
Hospital staff prayed over her body because Israel didn't allow any family members to accompany her to the hospital. https://twitter.com/DCIPalestine/status/1557816364160663553
UPDATE: Today, Layan Musleh Hamdi Al-Shaer, 10, succumbed to wounds she sustained in an Israeli drone strike west of Khan Younis on August 5.
She is the 17th Palestinian children confirmed killed in Gaza after the Israeli military launched a military offensive in August 5. https://twitter.com/dcipalestine/status/1557092603983798277
The recent droughts in Europe once again made visible the "Hunger Stones" in some Czech and German rivers. These stones were used to mark desperately low river levels that would forecast famines.
This one, in the Elbe river, is from 1616 and says: "If you see me, cry"
As colleagues are preparing their syllabi for the new semester, I want to start a thread sharing polisci books published during the pandemic (especially by early career scholars) to help promote them. If you can help, DM me the title of your book and I’ll add it to the thread 1/
Great article from Kirstin Wagner from @unppsea today sharing accounts from women and children who were exploited and abandoned by peacekeepers in DRC. So great seeing the voices of those who are 'peacekept' at the forefront like this.
https://theconversation.com/sexual-exploitation-by-un-peacekeepers-in-drc-fatherless-children-speak-for-first-time-about-the-pain-of-being-abandoned-188248
