Description
In recent years states have become more attentive to gender in their foreign policy. Two pivotal examples of this are the so-called ‘Hillary Doctrine’ as put into practice under Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State for the USA; and the adoption of a ‘feminist foreign policy’ by a range of countries, most notably Sweden. This article asks how each of these states understands their turn to gender in their foreign policy, looking at these policy agendas as enacted by Clinton and Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström - how do these two frameworks understand the importance of including gender equality within their foreign policy? What logic do they forward for embedding gender equality in their overseas work? It argues that the logic of including gender equality within foreign policy has moved from one based on the moral inclusion of women and gendered concerns, to an argument based instead on evidence and data. Arguments for gender equality in foreign policy must now be ‘smart’, with arguments based on ideology presented as being weaker and less persuasive. My paper contributes to the developing literature on gender and foreign policy but also, through a consideration of Clinton and Wallström, the role of women foreign policy leaders.
