What is the Future of Feminist Foreign Policy? Implications for Peace, Defence and Security

In October 2022 Sweden dropped its Feminist Foreign Policy, something Sweden had led on since 2014, with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs stating ‘That label has not served a good purpose’. This coincided with the election of a new government, but also came against a longer backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war and Sweden’s resulting decision to join NATO.

Following Sweden’s much publicised adoption of a Feminist Foreign Policy in 2014 an increasing number of states have followed suit, for example: Canada, Chile, France, Canada, France, Germany, Libya, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Mexico, Scotland and Spain, drawing attention to the relevance of feminism to external policy. Yet feminist policy making in foreign policy circles is nothing new, even if it now faces new challenges.

This roundtable brings together scholars working on the issues of feminist policy making in foreign policy; from feminist foreign policy, to Women, Peace and Security to gender mainstreaming at a state, regional and international level. The panel will consider: What does feminist foreign policy mean in 2023? Is feminist foreign policy compatible with militarism? How can (or should) we reconcile a feminist approach to foreign policy with increased defence spending? How can (or does) a feminist approach to foreign policy support peace? What are the limits of feminist foreign policy as an approach?

Speakers:

Dr Chris Agius, Swinburne University

Dr Annika Bergman Rosamond, University of Edinburgh

Professor Roberta Guerrina, University of Bristol

Professor Toni Haastrup, University of Stirling

Chair: Dr Katharine A. M. Wright, Newcastle University

Please register here.