Feminist foreign policy
Diversity instead of discrimination
In 2021, Germany’s federal government joined a global trend when it committed itself in its coalition agreement to a feminist foreign policy. Sweden, Canada, Luxembourg, France, Mexico, Spain, Libya, Chile and the Netherlands had already declared that their foreign policy – or parts of it – would be given a feminist orientation. But what is meant by such a policy approach and what form does it take in practice in Germany?
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Feminist foreign policy was born more than a century ago: in 1915, over 1,000 women from twelve countries met in The Hague to attend the International Women’s Peace Conference. The participating activists were dissatisfied with the foreign and security policy of the time, especially in the face of the First World War and its consequences. Towards the end of the conference they published a resolution containing 20 points and demands, making it clear how they believed that foreign policy should be designed in order to avoid conflicts, create long-term peace and make international politics more inclusive.Although the resolution was paid virtually no attention in 1915, it nonetheless laid the foundation stone for future developments and for feminist-oriented foreign and security policy. Over the years, feminists repeatedly picked up on the ideas and demands set out in the resolution and pursued them. Some of these demands can be found today in the UN Charta, in the 2030 Agenda or in women’s rights agreements.
WHAT IS FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY?
Feminist foreign policy criticizes the patriarchal status quo in foreign and security policy, both of which, along with diplomacy, are traditionally male-dominated areas. It questions these structures and demands that women and marginalized groups (e.g. indigenous people, refugees and LGBTQI+ people) be included in and made visible within all political, economic and social processes. Consideration is given not only to gender discrimination but also to discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin, sexual orientation or religious belief.Feminist foreign policy is committed among other things to bringing about gender equality, bolstering women’s rights and ensuring better protection of women and marginalized groups. In many cases, such groups are affected differently by unsafe situations than men are. A feminist definition of safety goes beyond the mere absence of war and also encompasses dimensions such as protection against femicides and access to food and medical care. Nuclear disarmament and demilitarization are also core demands. The goal of feminist foreign policy is to transform the political system such that foreign policy represents the interests of everyone and ensures greater safety for all sections of the population.
FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY IN GERMANY
After the federal government committed itself in its coalition agreement to feminist foreign policy in 2021, the Federal Foreign Office, headed by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, unveiled guidelines for a German feminist foreign policy in March 2023. They outline the goals to be pursued and how they are to be achieved in the areas of peace and security policy, humanitarian assistance and crisis management, human rights policy, climate diplomacy and energy foreign policy, foreign trade policy and cultural relations and education policy. In addition, they lay down internal working approaches and structures that aim to make the Federal Foreign Office more diverse and more inclusive.The goals can be summarized by the “three Rs” – rights, representation and resources. “Rights“ means respecting and promoting the rights of women and vulnerable groups worldwide. This includes for example fostering compliance with women’s rights agreements internationally or abolishing laws that make it more difficult for women to exercise the same rights as men.
“Representation” aims to ensure the equitable participation and representation of women in all areas of society and decision-making processes. Among other things, it includes increasing their representation in the German Bundestag, in the Federal Foreign Office, in international organizations and in negotiations.
“Resources” involves giving women and marginalized groups equal access to labour, financial and natural resources, including for example access to the labour market or education. These three goals are to be pursued in all areas of German foreign policy and prioritized in all foreign policy activities. As far as cultural and societal diplomacy is concerned, this means specifically promoting the involvement of these groups of people in art, culture, research, science, education and media and increasing their visibility in these areas.
In their capacity as German cultural institutions abroad, the branches of the Goethe-Institut uphold the “three Rs” in their operational activities, enabling them to function as safe spaces. To foster and strengthen diversity in society, it is necessary to create such safe spaces in which women and marginalized groups can express their opinions freely, build networks and work together.
