From Shock and Awe to Hearts and Minds: How the Iraq War Showed the Potential of Feminist Theory in a Realist World
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This paper examines why the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq evolved into an eight-year conflict by comparing the explanatory power of offensive realism and feminist curiosity. While offensive realism explains the strategic rationale for initiating the invasion, the paper argues that feminist curiosity better explains the war's persistence by highlighting the roles of militarized masculinity, gendered social structures, and the political economy of prolonged conflict. Using the Iraq War as a case study, the research demonstrates how these often-overlooked social and economic dynamics contributed to insurgent recruitment, human trafficking, corporate incentives, and resistance to withdrawal, ultimately arguing that incorporating feminist perspectives into international relations provides a more comprehensive framework for understanding and preventing prolonged modern conflicts.
Author: Kurzweil, Max
Institution: Muhlenberg College
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7172249147