Power-sharing, conflict resolution, and women: A global reappraisal

Peace processes in intra-state conflict from 1990 to date have overwhelmingly institutionalized compromises between contenders for power in the form of power-sharing arrangements. This article focuses on political power-sharing, drawing qualitatively on a global data-set of peace agreements for the period. It argues that peace agreements indicate three main functions for political power-sharing: permanent group accommodation; transition management; and equitable indigenous representation in local autonomy regimes. Each of these power-sharing types raises different opportunities and challenges for women’s inclusion and equality. The analysis aims to inform women’s engagement with power-sharing design and implementation in fragile and conflict-affected states. It also aims to introduce the importance of function into a power-sharing literature most concerned with form, while illustrating the value of global data on peace agreements to ‘mid-level analysis’ capable of bridging between broad quantitative generalisations and detailed case study analysis.