The country’s “feminist foreign policy,” introduced by Sweden’s previous left-wing administration less than ten years ago, is being abandoned, according to the country’s current government.
Tobias Billström, Sweden’s recently appointed foreign minister, claimed that the Social Democrats’ strategy was detrimental to Sweden’s international goals.
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström is credited with coining the term “feminist foreign policy,” which refers to a diplomatic strategy that prioritizes gender equality. Its declared objectives included advancing economic independence for women overseas, combating sexual assault, and increasing women’s political engagement globally.
It was highly praised by Social Democrats, foreign policy organizations in Sweden, and the left-leaning media, who all lauded Sweden as the first nation to embrace feminism as part of its global outreach. However, as of right now, a number of publications on the issue are being removed from the website of the Foreign Ministry.
According to Billström, a representative of the liberal-conservative Moderate Party, “Gender equality is a core value in Sweden and thus a fundamental value for this government.” However, we won’t use the term “feminist foreign policy” since titles sometimes conceal the true meaning of a concept. The reality that Swedish foreign policy must be founded on the issue of what Swedish values interests are has been hidden above all by this designation, which has served no further useful purpose.
More specifically, Billström promised to “alter portions of Swedish foreign policy” and place more of a focus on Nordic-Baltic and European collaboration.
Feminist foreign policy’s results
The effectiveness of Sweden’s so-called “feminist foreign policy” has been called into doubt, despite the country’s longstanding emphasis on women’s rights and efforts to position itself as a role model. One of its designers, Margot Wallström, rose to prominence internationally by deteriorating ties with both Israel and the Arab world.
As soon as she took office in 2014, Wallström recognized Palestine as a state, which strained Stockholm’s ties with Israel. Wallström was subsequently designated persona non grata in Israel for supporting a probe into what were referred to be “extrajudicial executions” of Palestinians. Wallström also sparked a diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia by criticizing its treatment of human rights and its cultural practices as “medieval.”
Wallström also strains ties with Morocco by attempting to recognize Western Sahara as an independent republic, a contentious former Spanish colony that is now partially under Moroccan authority. Finally, bowing to pressure from Rabat, the Swedish government revoked the recognition.
Last but not least, Wallström received criticism for never making good on an earlier pledge to acknowledge the 1915 Armenian genocide made by former prime minister Stefan Löfven.
During their 2017 visit to Iran, the Swedish team was criticized for wearing headscarves on social media. Former Liberals leader Jan Björklund called the decision “ruinous for the feminist foreign policy.”
The term “feminist” has also come under fire for being overused in Swedish politics and society, to the point that it has lost any significance. For instance, “feminist snow plowing” and “feminist urban design” have been promoted by Swedish politicians and media, provoking mockery online.
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