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The Transformative Potential of Feminist Foreign Policy

The Case of Sweden

Bibliographic Data

ID6408601
AuthorsMia-Lie Nylund (Uppsala University), Sandra Håkansson (0000-0002-6084-0218, Uppsala University), Elin Bjarnegård (0000-0002-3530-2805, Uppsala University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume44
Issue3
Pages257-273
Publication date2023-07-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWomen & Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0195-7732 • E-ISSN: 1540-9473
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1554477x.2022.2113662
OpenAlexW4297922135
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited41

Sweden describes its feminist foreign policy (FFP) as strategically illuminating structures of gender inequality by incorporating a feminist perspective in all areas of foreign policy, analytically and practically. This study scrutinizes the transformative potential of Sweden’s FFP discourse. Feminist scholarship argues for recognizing interrelations between gender and postcolonial structures; stressing gender hierarchies as contextual and contingent on various power structures. Using critical discourse analysis, we analyze documents, statements and speeches produced within the Swedish FFP in relation to postcolonial feminist theory. We find that a large part of the Swedish FFP discourse reproduces essentialist discourse informed by colonial legacies, but with a new feminist label. There are, however, signs of an emerging reformed discourse that strives to transform postcolonial power structures, taking intersectionality into account. This emerging discourse contributes to an understanding of how a feminist foreign policy could be articulated and practiced to become truly transformative

Critical discourse analysis · Discourse analysis · Essentialism · Feminism · Feminist philosophy · Feminist theory · Foreign policy · Intersectionality · Linguistics · Political science · Politics · Postcolonialism (international relations · Power (physics · Scholarship · Sociology · Transformative learning · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Politics and Representation · Gender Studies · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Law

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Unique citing works10
Citations per year3,33
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 10
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