“Feminist foreign policy” abandoned by Sweden

Feminist foreign policy has been abandoned by Sweden in favour of pursuing its national interests more assertively, according to the country’s new top diplomat.

In an effort to remove obstacles to gender equality and incorporate a gender perspective into all policy creation and decision-making, the Swedish government established the first openly feminist foreign policy in the history of the world in 2014. Since then, countries like Mexico, Canada, and France have adopted a similar policy.

According to a document published in 2021, Sweden was able to contribute its new feminist foreign policies to countries such as Somalia and Moldova. The policy was also included in Colombia’s 206 peace agreement. The document further stated that the policy was able to contribute to new legislation in at least 20 countries including gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and more.

However, with a new administration in charge, Swedish politics is changing. According to Tobias Billström, the country’s new minister of foreign affairs, Sweden will no longer pursue its ground-breaking feminist foreign policy.

According to Billström, “Gender equality is a core value in Sweden and for this government as well.” The name, however, hides the truth that Swedish foreign policy must be founded on Swedish principles and Swedish interests, thus we won’t be continuing with a feminist foreign policy. Although it is too soon to predict how this verbal shift will manifest itself in reality, the rebranding is alarming.

Unlike his predecessors, Billström appears concerned that calling the country’s foreign policy “feminist” undermines rather than upholds Swedish principles and interests.

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Sweden has developed an international reputation for women’s rights in part due to its feminism in foreign policy. The country was hailed as a trailblazer in realising the need of gender equality for broader foreign policy goals, including security, prosperity, and sustainable development. One of its accomplishments is the strengthening of laws against gender-based violence and the greater emphasis on women, peace, and security in the UN Security Council.

Sweden also played a major role in the adoption of the Gender Action Plan III by the Council in 2020 as a member of the EU, which is the equivalent of a feminist foreign policy at the EU level. More generally, gender equality and women’s rights have been at the centre of the EU’s priorities in terms of trade and the budget, and they have been crucial to efforts to mainstream gender equality into all EU policies.

Regardless of its political influence, Sweden has traditionally been one of the strongest voices in the world for global equality. However, there is a chance that Sweden’s position as a progressive nation working for gender equality could change during the course of the next four years. Sweden’s decision to take this course may be among the worst things that can happen for women and girls in the Global South who are struggling for survival in the face of poverty, and increasing violence.

Sweden’s groundbreaking feminist foreign policy once established a standard for the entire world. Its abandonment represents a step backwards.