The rise of feminist governance in foreign policy

A growing body of scholarship has examined the rise of gender mainstreaming and advent of feminist foreign policies in an increasing number of countries around the world. In this chapter we ask, how far and in what ways is feminist governance becoming a normative, ideational and institutional feature of foreign policy? We examine three types of feminist governance in foreign policy: First, we examine the diffusion of feminist or pro-gender equality agenda, including the Women, Peace and Security agenda within diverse country foreign policies. Second, we assess the role of transnational governance networks of, inter alia, women foreign policy leaders in advancing feminist governance. Third, we highlight feminist governance via the burgeoning feminist foreign policy movement - as reflected in new think tanks, media, coalitions, research institutes and other philanthropic initiatives that interface with women’s movements. One central outcome of states adopting feminist foreign policy is that there is now stronger feminist ‘networked governance’.