New book challenges traditional views of security in the Americas

How can security be understood beyond military threats and state borders? A new open-access book, Feminist Security Studies in the Americas, explores how violence, insecurity and resistance are experienced across the Americas through feminist and decolonial perspectives.

The volume, edited by Associate Senior Lecturer Priscyll Anctil Avoine at the Swedish Defence University, brings together researchers from across the American region to examine how international conflicts, state violence and everyday insecurities intersect.

A broader perspective on feminist securities studies

The book was developed during a period marked by growing authoritarianism and global conflict. According to Priscyll Anctil Avoine, these developments make the book's contribution particularly relevant.

“Violence and insecurity are not only experienced on battlefields. They are also present in communities, families and everyday life. This book shows why we need broader perspectives to understand these realities”, she says.

Security from the perspective of the Americas

The volume seeks to expand the field of feminist security studies, which has traditionally been dominated by perspectives from the United States and Europe. Instead, the contributors examine security from the realities of the Americas, highlighting issues such as militarisation, feminicide, migration, drug-related violence and grassroots resistance.

The book is divided into four sections covering feminist and decolonial approaches to peace and security, unconventional wars, mobility and insecurity, and alternative ways of responding to violence. Several chapters focus on the experiences and strategies of communities directly affected by insecurity.

Beyond conventional security thinking

A central conclusion is that traditional security frameworks are insufficient for understanding contemporary forms of violence.

“To understand insecurity in the Americas, we need to move beyond conventional security thinking. The lived experiences of those affected by violence offer essential knowledge about both insecurity and possibilities for peace.”

The contributors argue that security must be analysed across multiple levels, from international politics to the intimate sphere and local communities. The book also highlights how gender intersects with race, class and colonial legacies in shaping experiences of insecurity.

Connecting research with policy and activism

For Priscyll Anctil Avoine, the volume is not only an academic contribution but also a way to connect research with policy and activism.

“Our ambition was to create a dialogue between researchers, activists and practitioners. The book offers tools for rethinking security from the ground up and for imagining more just and non-violent futures.”

The book is intended for researchers and students in fields such as war studies, political science, peace and conflict studies and gender studies. It also offers insights for policymakers, civil society organisations and others working to address violence and insecurity, according to Priscyll Anctil Avoine.