Mexican women's neglected early International Relations contributions

Abstract

This article addresses the underrepresentation of women from the global South in International Relations (IR) thinking. Gender disparities and academic global inequalities affect the quality of research in IR. The cases of three prominent women scholars—Minerva Morales, Olga Pellicer and Rosario Green, affiliated with one of the first academic departments of IR in Latin America, the Center for International Studies at El Colegio de México—are illustrative of how power and asymmetries can shape the circulation of ideas and limit our understanding of international relations. Despite their relevant contributions and successful careers, these scholars faced structural limitations to reaching an international audience and receiving the same status as their male peers. An examination of their publications shows that their inclusion helps us to improve our knowledge of the plural sources of IR debates. Consequently, they enlighten us on the persistent trends and challenges that still characterize the international insertion of Latin American countries, which have political consequences. Global asymmetries, research creativity, development and debt issues, domestic constraints in foreign policy and the imperative but difficult multilateral cooperation are their main areas of analysis that resonate in current world politics.