Feminist Foreign Policy: Views from the Field

As governments grapple with numerous complex challenges, more traditional approaches to foreign and security policy need rethinking. So do underlying assumptions about gender, power, and security.

Feminist foreign policy (FFP) has emerged as a new paradigm, building on legal frameworks, feminist international relations theory, women’s movements, and the women, peace, and security agenda. FFP is a bold commitment, signaling to those inside government, civil society and other states that gender equality is a foreign policy goal and fundamental to peace, security and stability.  

This panel will address how FFP differs from traditional foreign policy, or one focused on advancing the rights of women and girls. The panelists will discuss the theory and practice of FFP, with examples from two counties that are implementing an FFP (one from Latin American and one from Europe) and highlight the perspective of civil society advocates for FFP.

FFP differs across countries but encompasses key principles. It is a framework to integrate gender equality across diplomacy, foreign assistance, defense and security cooperation, and trade. It widens the definition of security and addresses historic power imbalances. It values more diverse voices in policymaking, from both inside and outside government.  

Speakers:

• Caroline Bettinger-Lopez (moderator), University of Miami School of Law
• Stephenie Foster (co-author), Smash Strategies
• Elisabeth Franz, German Embassy, Washington, DC
• Susan Markham (co-author), Smash Strategies
• Gayatri Patel, Coalition for a Feminist Foreign Policy in the U.S.
• Arlene Tickner, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations