Doctoral Concentration in Feminist Comparative & International Politics

Feminist approaches are now central to the contemporary fields of Comparative and International Politics. Attention to gender relations and dynamics in relation to race, nation, class, and sexuality is now understood as crucial to development, peace, sustainability, democracy, and human rights. Pursuing the Feminist Comparative and International Politics (FCIP) concentration positions graduates to contribute to intellectual developments in feminist security, global political economy, global governance, human rights and international law, development, and democratization studies and policymaking on gender in these areas. Such a concentration, which will appear on student transcripts, will also enable graduates to teach in this cutting edge area of political science while also contributing to interdisciplinary programs in gender, human rights, peace and conflict resolution, and sustainable development studies.

Students can elect to complete this 12-credit concentration within their PhD program through taking any three of the courses below regularly offered in the major areas of study of comparative and international politics. These can be taken as part of the 10-course requirement in two major areas of study, particularly by students who elect to specialize in both or either comparative and international politics. Students can also take these as all or part of their electives in any major area of study in Political Science. Students may also apply such courses as electives to the graduate certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offered by that department for an additional credential.

Any three of the following courses can be completed in any order for the FCIP concentration, although it is recommended that students take Feminist International Politics, and initially if possible. Students may also take more of these courses beyond the concentration requirements as part of their major fields of study and/or elective requirements. Those completing the concentration can expect some focus on it in their comprehensive examinations, and students will find it useful to inform their dissertation research.

  • 6090 Feminist International Politics
  • 6065 Gender and Sustainable Development
  • 6068 Nation, Race, Identity
  • 6081 Inequalities and Resistances in the Global Political Economy
  • 7068 Identity Politics in Comparative Perspective
  • 7069 Democracy and Development
  • 7084 Contemporary International Law
  • 7091 Critical Perspectives on War, Peace, and Security
  • 7058 Interpretive Methods in the Social Sciences

Students considering, pursuing, or completing the FCIP concentration should contact FCIP Concentration Advisor Dr. Anne Sisson Runyan (anne.runyan@uc.edu) well before graduation.

Dissertations and employment of recent PhD graduates with the FCIP concentration:

Dr. Anwar Mhajne

“Political Opportunities and Strategic Choices of the Muslim Sisterhood in Egypt”

Tenure-track Assistant Professor, Stonehill College, Massachusetts

Dr. Alexis Straka

“Muslim Americans & Electoral Democracy in the Trump Era”

Senior Analyst, Nielsen

Dr. Crystal Whetstone

“Nurturing Democracy in Armed Conflicts through Political Motherhood: A Comparative Study of Women’s Political Participation in Argentina and Sri Lanka”

Tenure-track Assistant Professor, Sam Houston State University, Texas