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Armed Peace: Civilian Firearms, Gender-Responsive Governance, and the Severity of Intimate Partner Violence in Peacetime Societies
Zeldenrust, Megan
Zeldenrust, Megan
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Abstract
This study investigates how civilian firearm prevalence and GRL jointly influence the severity of IPV across countries. Using cross-national quantitative analysis alongside qualitative case studies of New Zealand, Finland, and France, it assesses whether firearm availability increases IPV lethality and whether strong GRL reduces this risk. Quantitative results show that the positive association between firearms and IPV severity is not statistically significant once GRL and socioeconomic factors are introduced, underscoring the importance of structural and institutional contexts. The case studies reveal that institutional capacity, enforcement, and social norms fundamentally shape how firearms translate into severe IPV. In contrast to New Zealand and France, where enforcement gaps and unregistered firearms are common, Finland mitigates severity through strong institutions, welfare, and civic norms. These findings suggest that rather than being deterministic drivers, firearms are conditional risk amplifiers. This study also emphasizes the limitations of global data, as underreporting of IPV and incomplete information on illicit firearms impede understanding, reinforcing the need for improved international and tailored reporting systems to better understand the dimensions of harm facing women. Policy Recommendations: 1. Promote risk-based firearm restrictions tied to violent histories and protection orders. 2. Strengthen coordination among law enforcement, judicial systems, and social services to ensure timely, survivor-centered interventions. 3. Support survivor-centered infrastructure, including shelters, trauma-informed services, and culturally responsive outreach. 4. Improve international reporting transparency and data standardization of IPV and both legal and illicit civilian firearm holdings in order to enable evidence-based policy and cross-national learning.
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Master of Arts in International Affairs -- John Cabot University, Fall 2025.
Date
2025
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Keywords
Intimate partner violence, Gender-based violence
Citation
Zeldenrust, Megan. "Armed Peace: Civilian Firearms, Gender-Responsive Governance, and the Severity of Intimate Partner Violence in Peacetime Societies". Master's Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2025.