Description
Canada's reputation on the international stage has historically been that of a “good state”, committed to liberalism and multilateralism (Lawler 2013), a status that afforded it comparative advantages and a certain standing as a middle power (Potter 1996). The adoption of a feminist foreign policy (FFP) can be seen as an extension of this identity, with some states adopting FFPs to demonstrate their allegiance to the international liberal order and advance their interests (Thomson 2022, Zhukova et al. 2022).
However, this liberal order has long been considered in crisis (Ikenberry 2018). Recently, Canadian foreign policy has also taken a historic turn, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs announcing a more pragmatic stance (Paquin & Blais 2023) - a change that may signify a departure from Canada’s previous reliance on normative posturing.
This paper explores the effect of these emerging tensions on the development and promotion of Canadian feminist foreign policy by analyzing how perceived changes at the international level affect the articulation of feminism within a shifting normative identity in foreign policy. The analysis is based on discourse analysis, drawing on interviews with political and administrative staff within Global Affairs Canada and members of civil society involved FFP implementation. It also includes an examination of official documents published since 2017 in various foreign policy sectors (security, aid, development and trade).
This research contributes to the literature on the evolution and resilience, if applicable, of feminist norms within a transforming international liberal order.
