South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy?
In 2014, Sweden became the first country to adopt a feminist foreign policy. Although a new Swedish government abandoned the country’s feminist foreign policy in October 2022, Sweden has inspired many other states to adopt such a foreign policy to advance the status of women and girls. These develo...
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University of Johannesburg
2023-02-01
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| Series: | The Thinker |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2359 |
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| author | Jo-Ansie van Wyk |
| author_facet | Jo-Ansie van Wyk |
| author_sort | Jo-Ansie van Wyk |
| collection | DOAJ |
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In 2014, Sweden became the first country to adopt a feminist foreign policy. Although a new Swedish government abandoned the country’s feminist foreign policy in October 2022, Sweden has inspired many other states to adopt such a foreign policy to advance the status of women and girls. These developments have not gone unnoticed in South Africa, where historical relations between Sweden
and the country’s liberation movements endure in post-apartheid South Africa. Unlike Sweden, South Africa never adopted or declared a feminist foreign policy due to historical and cultural reasons, and different conceptualisations of women, gender, and feminism. Instead, under the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) since 1994, South Africa has diplomatically capitalised on its liberation struggle and human rights credentials; the latter which, to some extent, have for some time superseded a more focused emphasis on women’s rights. A more nuanced foreign policy focus on improving the status of women and gender equality emerged
partly due to international developments regarding women, peace, and security. Hence, the contribution explores feminist and/or gendered aspects of South Africa’s foreign policy of ubuntu (human-ness and humanity) and diplomatic practice, and the implications thereof. It has shown that South Africa’s growing embrace of elements associated with a feminist foreign policy includes memorialisation and symbolism (i.e. linking the liberation struggle and female stalwarts to foreign policy), positioning women in progressive internationalism, and integrating women in the definition of South Africa’s national interests.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-67f90139ed004d0b97993922927cb1c4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-2458 2616-907X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | University of Johannesburg |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Thinker |
| spelling | doaj-art-67f90139ed004d0b97993922927cb1c42025-01-28T09:01:58ZengUniversity of JohannesburgThe Thinker2075-24582616-907X2023-02-0194110.36615/the_thinker.v94i1.2359South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy?Jo-Ansie van Wyk0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4950-7171University of South Africa In 2014, Sweden became the first country to adopt a feminist foreign policy. Although a new Swedish government abandoned the country’s feminist foreign policy in October 2022, Sweden has inspired many other states to adopt such a foreign policy to advance the status of women and girls. These developments have not gone unnoticed in South Africa, where historical relations between Sweden and the country’s liberation movements endure in post-apartheid South Africa. Unlike Sweden, South Africa never adopted or declared a feminist foreign policy due to historical and cultural reasons, and different conceptualisations of women, gender, and feminism. Instead, under the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) since 1994, South Africa has diplomatically capitalised on its liberation struggle and human rights credentials; the latter which, to some extent, have for some time superseded a more focused emphasis on women’s rights. A more nuanced foreign policy focus on improving the status of women and gender equality emerged partly due to international developments regarding women, peace, and security. Hence, the contribution explores feminist and/or gendered aspects of South Africa’s foreign policy of ubuntu (human-ness and humanity) and diplomatic practice, and the implications thereof. It has shown that South Africa’s growing embrace of elements associated with a feminist foreign policy includes memorialisation and symbolism (i.e. linking the liberation struggle and female stalwarts to foreign policy), positioning women in progressive internationalism, and integrating women in the definition of South Africa’s national interests. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2359South AfricaFeminist Foreign Policy |
| spellingShingle | Jo-Ansie van Wyk South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy? The Thinker South Africa Feminist Foreign Policy |
| title | South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy? |
| title_full | South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy? |
| title_fullStr | South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy? |
| title_full_unstemmed | South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy? |
| title_short | South Africa: A Growing Embrace of Feminist Foreign Policy? |
| title_sort | south africa a growing embrace of feminist foreign policy |
| topic | South Africa Feminist Foreign Policy |
| url | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2359 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joansievanwyk southafricaagrowingembraceoffeministforeignpolicy |