Judith Ann Tickner (born 1937) is an Anglo-American feminist international relations theorist. she is distinguished scholar in residence at the School of International Services, American University, Washington DC.
Judith Ann Tickner was born in London, England, in 1937.
She received her B.A. in history from the University of London, M.A. in international relations from Yale University, and Ph.D. in political science from Brandeis University.
Tickner served as president of the International Studies Association (ISA) from 2006 to 2007.
Tickner was a professor of international relations at the University of Southern California for 15 years, and was afterwards became professor emerita.
She became a distinguished scholar in residence at the School of International Services, American University, Washington DC, in 2012, where she remains as of March 2026.
Her research focus is international relations theory from a feminist perspective, peace and security.
Her books include Gendering World Politics: Issues and Approaches in the Post-Cold War Era (Columbia University Press, 2001), Gender in International Relations: Feminist Perspectives on Achieving International Security (Columbia University Press, 1992), and Self-Reliance Versus Power Politics: American and Indian Experiences in Building Nation-States (Columbia University Press, 1987). She has also authored many book chapters, journal articles, book reviews, and other publications.
She is known for her article "You Just Don't Understand" (International Studies Quarterly (1997) 41, 611-632), which critiqued mainstream international relations theorists for the omission of gender from their theory and practice.
On June 4, 1999, Tickner received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Uppsala University, Sweden.
In 2007, she was the recipient of the Susan S. Northcutt Award from the Women's Caucus for International Studies at the ISA.
In July 2010, she was appointed Visiting Distinguished Professor at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
Several awards have been named in her honour, including:
In 2011 the International Studies Association established the J. Ann Tickner Award, to recognise her significant contribution to the organization, and in international relations more generally". The award "recognizes someone who, in Tickner's footsteps, consistently combines bravery in pursuing high-quality, pioneering scholarship that pushes the boundaries of the discipline with a deep commitment to service, especially teaching and mentoring." Past recipients include:
Tickner was married to Hayward Alker until his death in 2007.