What contribution should a gender analysis make to the fight against terrorism? The Swedish government faced questions like these when it announced a feminist foreign policy four years ago. According to its own statements, Sweden is the first country in the world to follow this concept. Shortly before the parliamentary elections on 9 September, the Foreign Minister has published a manual in which she answers her critics.
The 111-page brochure is also an interim report and guide for other governments. Sweden's idea essentially aims at gender equality and aims to help girls and women achieve their fundamental rights. This, it is said from Stockholm, is a democratic matter of course.
Foreign Minister Margot Wallström has been dealing with gender equality for years. Before assuming office in 2014, she was UN Special Representative on sexual violence in conflict. This work also shapes their foreign policy.
"The worldwide systematic subordination of women among men is basically a human rights issue," says Wallström repeatedly in interviews. One of the core objectives of their foreign policy is therefore to strengthen human rights. The goal is "to strengthen the rights, representation and resources of all women and girls," said Wallström. In concrete terms, this means, for example, that Sweden is increasingly filling ambassador positions with women. While 28 percent of all Swedish ambassadors were female in 2006, the number has already risen to 40 percent by 2016.
More women than peace mediators
However, Sweden's idea is not entirely new. It is essentially based on the UN Resolution 1325 from the year 2000. This recognizes that especially women and girls are affected by armed conflicts and wars. At the same time, well over 90 percent of official peace mediators worldwide are male.
Sweden wants to change that. To achieve peace and security equality is essential, it says in the guide. The Swedish embassy in Kabul has trained several Afghan women as mediators. In the handbook, the center-left government describes its experiences with projects of this kind - but it highlights mainly achievements.
Robert Egnell, a professor at the Swedish Defense University, also describes feminist foreign policy as a "great success." Although the new concept 2014 by no means meant a radical change to Stockholm's previous line. However, only the use of the word "feminist" causes attention. "This has enabled us to raise the issue of gender equality worldwide and that is important," says Egnell SPIEGEL ONLINE. However, the concept also led to problems.
"Feminist foreign policy is anything but soft," says Egnell. The approach is rather a challenge and dangerous. Since 2014, there have also been tensions with several countries. The most well-known example is the diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia in 2015. At that time Sweden had criticized the human rights situation and the political system in Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, Stockholm suspended a million dollar military deal. Riad withdrew his ambassador from Sweden.
Dilemma of feminist foreign policy
The quarrel with the Saudis highlights the dilemma of feminist foreign policy. On the one hand, Stockholm pursues its women's and human rights goals, on the other, it also cooperates with countries that deviate significantly from it. Sweden is also one of the largest arms exporters in the world in terms of population. This regularly leads to criticism from women's and human rights organizations.
"Feminist foreign policy is constantly confronted with contradictions, because the order of the world has developed in a traditionally different way," says Egnell. At the same time, however, Stockholm's line shows that a change in the system is possible and other countries are not averse to the concept.
"In 2016, we got a seat on the UN Security Council - despite our feminist foreign policy, or perhaps that's precisely why," says Egnell. Several countries had already shown interest in the concept and sought to talk to Stockholm. Including the Netherlands, but especially Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau describes himself as a feminist and is one of Wallström's closest allies. Already in 2016, he integrated the gender perspective into Canadian military missions.
A model for Germany?
In Germany, too, there are voices that speak out for a feminist foreign policy. Ulle Schauws, women's spokeswoman for the Greens, describes Wallström's progressive foreign policy as "exemplary". The manual is a great way to empower women. "In order to represent credibly gender equality in the world, however, there must be corresponding impetus and standards in Germany," said Schauws SPIEGEL ONLINE. As examples she mentioned sexual self-determination, the wage differences between men and women and parity representation in parliaments. In Germany, she sees "strong need for improvement".
And in Sweden too, the future of the concept is uncertain. In a few days, a new parliament will be elected. If Sweden's rights then come to power, that would probably be the temporary end of feminist foreign policy, says Egnell.