Empowering Citizens In Fragile States: Gender, Development, And The Threat Of Terrorism

Abstract

This article critically examines the nexus between fragility, gender, development, and terrorism in conflict-affected states, arguing that civic empowerment, particularly of women, is both undermined by and central to fragile governance. Drawing on feminist security studies, the capability approach, and intersectionality, it critiques securitized aid strategies that marginalize grassroots agency and reinforce patriarchal power. Through case studies from the Kurdish regions, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East, it advocates for gender-sensitive, rights-based statebuilding. The article calls for post-conflict reconstruction grounded in justice, equity, and local legitimacy, reframing development as a politically conscious and emancipatory process in fragile, terrorism-prone contexts.