Description
The Scottish Government’s (SG) Programme for Government 2021-2022 promised a new “global affairs framework' for its international engagement, basing that promise on ‘a feminist approach to foreign policy’. This commitment is reiterated in the SG position paper ‘Taking a Feminist Approach to International Relations’ published in November 2023. In this paper we ask what it means for Scotland – a sub-state, without a traditional foreign policy remit– to develop a feminist approach to foreign policy? To date, the Scottish Government’s aim has been to be a “good global citizen” through its commitment to international climate justice, welcoming of refugees and aspiration to develop a wellbeing economy. However, will its reluctance to do more to end its role in fossil fuel extraction, arms manufacturing and nuclear weapons undermine its feminist aspirations? Drawing upon our previous work we propose that a feminist approach to Scottish Foreign Policy should be based on authenticity, ambition, and accountability.
