The Department of State

Abstract

This chapter is one of three which examines a key U.S. department or agency which played a fundamental role in an 'all-of-government' approach to countering terrorism. The US Department of State is the designated lead agency on all foreign policy matters. This chapter looks at democracy promotion in the GWOT and the rights and empowerment of women to challenge extremism. It highlights increasing efforts in State to consider and integrate women into its counterterrorism strategy, and broader initiatives such as the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, and the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. It highlights the growth CVE initiatives, as well as how State had to increasingly respond to sexual and gender-based violence committed by terrorist groups. Finally it considers how key discourses emphasized in State around women's rights and victimhood were also being utilized by terrorist groups.