At a time when the liberal international order is in crisis, several middle powers including Canada have taken the lead in pushing for the inclusion of women in peace operations under the banner of the 1325 agenda. This article assesses the implementation of the 1325 agenda in peacekeeping operations. We contend that the limited results of the agenda should primarily be attributed to the way liberal middle powers promoted it, rather than to opposition from conservative or less gendered-minded UN member states. We conclude by reflecting on the vulnerability of this agenda to changes in the dominant international ethos.