The palindrome as a disruptive force : an analysis of feminist literature in international relations (IR) rooted in the work of Cynthia Enloe

Abstract

Feminists have long been championing the idea that ‘the personal is political’ and that politics occur even in the areas of life which seem to be most apolitical. Popularized in the field of International Relations (IR) by Cynthia Enloe in her 1989 book <i>Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics</i>, this palindrome has come to be used by feminist scholars throughout IR and feminist security studies (FSS). Enloe also introduced the idea that ‘the personal is international’, which is the second palindromic phrase that is explored in this essay. Able to be read both left-to-right and in an inverted manner, the palindrome is disruptive and creates an instability in language and thought, much as feminists aim to do. This essay examines six single-authored monographs which use palindromes in their analysis as a means to unsettle normative political concepts by highlighting connections between the everyday lived experiences of women and the political world, of which women are often portrayed as being outsiders. This thesis will argue that Cynthia Enloe's introduction of the palindromic phrase "the personal is international" in her 1989 book <i>Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics</i> brings to light the role that individual authors can play in setting the course of academic research in a discipline.