Intersectionality in Peacebuilding: Addressing Gender, Caste, and Disability: A Review

Abstract

Peacebuilding initiatives have traditionally focused on political settlements, institutional reforms, and conflict resolution mechanisms while often overlooking the complex social inequalities that shape people’s experiences of violence and recovery. Intersectionality offers a critical framework for understanding how multiple systems of oppression—such as gender discrimination, caste hierarchies, and disability-based exclusion—interact to produce unique forms of marginalization. This review examines the relevance of intersectionality in peacebuilding with particular attention to gender, caste, and disability. It explores the theoretical foundations of intersectionality, analyses how intersecting identities influence experiences of conflict and structural violence, and evaluates the implications of intersectional approaches for inclusive peacebuilding. Drawing on scholarship from feminist theory, peace and conflict studies, and disability studies, the review highlights how marginalized groups—especially women from lower caste communities and persons with disabilities—often face compounded discrimination that limits their participation in peace processes and access to justice. Evidence from South Asia demonstrates that inequalities rooted in caste and gender intersect with disability to intensify social exclusion and structural violence. The review argues that peacebuilding strategies must move beyond single-axis approaches to incorporate intersectional analysis in policy development, governance reforms, and community participation. By addressing overlapping systems of oppression and ensuring the representation of marginalized communities in decision-making processes, intersectional peacebuilding can contribute to more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable peace. The article concludes by identifying challenges and proposing policy recommendations for integrating intersectionality into peacebuilding frameworks.