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Feminist Foreign Policies (FFPs) as Strategic Narratives: Norm Translation in Sweden, Canada, France, and Mexico

Zhukova, Ekatherina LU orcid ; Rosén Sundström, Malena LU and Elgström, Ole LU (2022) In Review of International Studies 48(1). p.195-216
Abstract
Drawing on the IR theories of norm translation and strategic narratives, this article focuses on how states translate international norms to their own advantage by producing strategic narratives to advance their soft power ambitions abroad. Using the example of Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), the article compares Sweden, Canada, France, and Mexico in their attempts to translate international feminist norms into their countries’ strategic narratives. This comparison is based on three strategic narrative types (issue, national, and international system narratives) and two types of feminism (liberal, intersectional). Issue narratives reveal that Sweden and Mexico give more priority to social policies, while France and Canada emphasize the role... (More)
Drawing on the IR theories of norm translation and strategic narratives, this article focuses on how states translate international norms to their own advantage by producing strategic narratives to advance their soft power ambitions abroad. Using the example of Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), the article compares Sweden, Canada, France, and Mexico in their attempts to translate international feminist norms into their countries’ strategic narratives. This comparison is based on three strategic narrative types (issue, national, and international system narratives) and two types of feminism (liberal, intersectional). Issue narratives reveal that Sweden and Mexico give more priority to social policies, while France and Canada emphasize the role of the market in addressing gender inequality. International system narratives demonstrate that Sweden and Mexico perceive global challenges as drivers of gender inequality, while France and Canada see gender inequality as a cause of global problems. National narratives show that Sweden and Mexico refer to other FFP countries to ‘back up’ their feminist initiatives, while France and Canada do not relate to other states. Finally, while liberal feminism dominates all four FFPs, each state either prioritizes particular aspects of it (legal, market, security, rights-based) or incorporates elements from intersectional feminism. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
feminist foreign policy, strategic narratives, norm translation, liberal feminism, intersectional feminism, international norms
in
Review of International Studies
volume
48
issue
1
pages
195 - 216
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85111417229
ISSN
0260-2105
DOI
10.1017/S0260210521000413
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ba118ee8-9817-40ff-8180-66b55f2f6010
date added to LUP
2021-06-29 09:12:38
date last changed
2022-04-27 02:52:58
@article{ba118ee8-9817-40ff-8180-66b55f2f6010,
  abstract     = {{Drawing on the IR theories of norm translation and strategic narratives, this article focuses on how states translate international norms to their own advantage by producing strategic narratives to advance their soft power ambitions abroad. Using the example of Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), the article compares Sweden, Canada, France, and Mexico in their attempts to translate international feminist norms into their countries’ strategic narratives. This comparison is based on three strategic narrative types (issue, national, and international system narratives) and two types of feminism (liberal, intersectional). Issue narratives reveal that Sweden and Mexico give more priority to social policies, while France and Canada emphasize the role of the market in addressing gender inequality. International system narratives demonstrate that Sweden and Mexico perceive global challenges as drivers of gender inequality, while France and Canada see gender inequality as a cause of global problems. National narratives show that Sweden and Mexico refer to other FFP countries to ‘back up’ their feminist initiatives, while France and Canada do not relate to other states. Finally, while liberal feminism dominates all four FFPs, each state either prioritizes particular aspects of it (legal, market, security, rights-based) or incorporates elements from intersectional feminism.}},
  author       = {{Zhukova, Ekatherina and Rosén Sundström, Malena and Elgström, Ole}},
  issn         = {{0260-2105}},
  keywords     = {{feminist foreign policy; strategic narratives; norm translation; liberal feminism; intersectional feminism; international norms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{195--216}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Review of International Studies}},
  title        = {{Feminist Foreign Policies (FFPs) as Strategic Narratives: Norm Translation in Sweden, Canada, France, and Mexico}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0260210521000413}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S0260210521000413}},
  volume       = {{48}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}