Neither an objective law of nature nor an intrinsic element of the human condition, realist one-worldism is but one representation of the world. What traditional IR has passed off as 'universal' or 'human', feminists have pointed out, should be described, more accurately, as 'particular' and 'androcentric'. I think feminism has made to our understanding of 'the international'. This elaboration provides an opportunity to assess 'progress' and to address the questions which guide this collection. It twists my head around.
Life is ever in progress.
Whether it progresses in positive or negative or in-between ways, when, where, and how is an enormous issue. The term eludes definitional clarity. The jury, it seems, is still out. My first thought on being asked to write these reflections was how difficult a critical assessment of such a young field would be. While there are differences amongst IR feminists, engaging in self-criticism seems premature as feminist approaches still struggle to be heard in a discipline that has not been particularly open to gender approaches.