Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Wertz, Aurélie
Author-Email: aure.wertz@gmail.com
Author-Workplace-Name: ENABEL, Belgium
Author-Name: Mbuvi, Dorcas
Author-Email: mbuvi@merit.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT
Title: Women, leadership and violent extremism: A potential security risk?
Abstract: This paper examines an important and overlooked subject area. Women's
	 role in extremist organisations is neglected in general, and the
	 question of their tactical leadership in these settings is poorly
	 understood. Without specific focus on particular extremist movements or
	 ideologies and, to advance understanding and spur critical discussions
	 around female leadership in violent extremism, we propose three
	 conceptual models. The first details key drivers that plausibly
	 facilitate the emergence of female extremist leaders. The second
	 discusses six possible female leadership styles and the third touches on
	 female spheres of influence in violent extremism. The paper provides
	 preliminary explorative insights on a neglected topic while offering
	 opportunities for further research.
Classification-JEL: D02, D74, F52, H12, J16, Z18
Keywords: women, gender, violent extremism, leadership styles, counter-terrorism,
	 security threats
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 20201208
Number: 2020-054
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2020/wp2020-054.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2020054