Exploring Feminist Foreign Policy

Feminist foreign policy (FFP) has emerged as one of the most significant shifts in global diplomacy in the last decade. While gender equality has long appeared on the international development agenda, including in the Millennium Development Goals, it was not until 2014 that the concept formally entered foreign policy practice, when Sweden became the first country in the world to adopt a feminist foreign policy.

Since then, the idea has gained considerable momentum. In 2022, Sweden announced the formation of the Feminist Foreign Policy Plus Group, bringing together 16 countries committed to advancing gender equality through their external relations. Today, Europe–alongside countries such as Canada, Mexico, and Chile–continues to lead in developing concrete frameworks for feminist foreign policy implementation.

What exactly is feminist foreign policy? To answer, one must first understand feminism not merely as the advancement of women, but as a framework for challenging systemic inequality.