Towards the adoption of a feminist foreign policy in India ?

12.02.2023

Written by Julia Ricci

Translated by Zoé Llacer

India is an emerging power, elected for four years to the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2020^[1]Atchaya, I. (2022b, août 15). The Need for Feminist Foreign Policy in India. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/08/06/the-need-for-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/ and the future president of the G20 held in 2023. Recently, the country has shown a commitment to women’s inclusion and gender equality in its policies. Foreign policy discourses bear importance to gender theory through initiatives, promotions and considerations^[2]Bhide, P. (2022, 1 novembre). Gendering the Indo-Pacific Dialogue : Opportunities for India and Australia. South Asian … Continue reading. Given its future G20 priorities concerning women’s empowerment, sustainable development goals and the 2023 Agenda, everything seems to indicate that India is heading towards an inclusive and multilateral feminist foreign policy (FFP)^[3]Mukherjee, B. (2022, 31 octobre). India and the G20 Presidency : Its Priorities and Challenges. India … Continue reading.

The FFP was introduced in 2014 by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström to include women in peace negotiations so as to ensure gender equality and human rights for women via diplomatic relations^[4]Nigam, S. (2022, 25 octobre). Feminist Foreign Policy In India : A Trifecta Approach To Hope, Imagination, And Possibilities – IMPRI Impact. IMPRI Impact and Policy Research … Continue reading. The FFP aims to question dominant power structures and systems of oppression employing feminist outlooks and state interactions^[5]Magan, T. (2022). A closer look into Feminist Foreign Policy in India. ORF Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/a-closer-look-into-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/. Several studies have shown a correlation between gender equality and women’s empowerment in the economic, political and peace spheres, leading to economic prosperity and international security^[6]Atchaya, I. (2022b, août 15). The Need for Feminist Foreign Policy in India. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/08/06/the-need-for-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/. Since 2014, other countries, such as Canada, Mexico, and France, have adopted a FFP, adapting this policy and its goals according to their definitions, political experiences and cultures, and diplomatic needs and values^[7]Sharma, R. & Bhide, P. (2021, 15 janvier). Why India Should Adopt a Feminist Foreign Policy Framework. The … Continue reading. Following an analysis of India’s gender equality situation, this work questions the issues India faces in mainstreaming a FFP.

State of India’s achievements in gender equality, empowerment, protection, and participation of women

A FFP implementation must be tailored to the situation in India. Firstly, this country has focused its foreign policy efforts mainly on traditional security matters, territorial integrity protection and defence of national interests^[8]Khullar, A. (2021, 17 novembre). Feminist Foreign Policy : A New Innovation for Indian Diplomacy. South Asian … Continue reading. Secondly, the societal and religious organisation is based on an opaque caste hierarchy, reflecting a power imbalance, historically favouring patriarchy. Lastly, India, being a former British colony, takes part in a feminist perspective that seeks to deconstruct the domination brought by colonisation and imperialism^[9]Nigam, S. (2022, 25 octobre). Feminist Foreign Policy In India : A Trifecta Approach To Hope, Imagination, And Possibilities – IMPRI Impact. IMPRI Impact and Policy Research … Continue reading. Thus, women’s representation and past involvement in the diplomatic realm are marginalised and forgotten. Out of 33 foreign ministers, three have been women, including Chokila Iyer, the first woman foreign minister in 2001^[10]The Diplomat. (2020, 12 novembre). Where Are the Women in Indian Diplomacy ? https://thediplomat.com/2020/11/where-are-the-women-in-indian-diplomacy/. Despite the increasing number of women in this field, only 18% hold leading positions in embassies^[11]Atchaya, I. (2022a, janvier 18). What India can take away from Mexico’s Feminist Foreign Policy. Modern … Continue reading.

India wishes to insert policies of equality, social justice, and freedom. In 1933, India ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and in 2007, it sent a contingent of women to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)^[12]Sharma, R. & Bhide, P. (2021, 15 janvier). Why India Should Adopt a Feminist Foreign Policy Framework. The … Continue reading. In 2015, India committed to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals by providing financial support to multilateral programs on women’s empowerment^[13]Magan, T. (2022). A closer look into Feminist Foreign Policy in India. ORF Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/a-closer-look-into-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/. This demonstrates India’s involvement in international bodies to support women through its influence and soft power^[14]Atchaya, I. (2022b, août 15). The Need for Feminist Foreign Policy in India. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/08/06/the-need-for-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/.

Nonetheless, India’s efforts are criticised as superficial. The country continues to apply discriminatory laws, accentuating inequalities and exclusion of marginalised groups^[15]Nigam, S. (2022, 25 octobre). Feminist Foreign Policy In India : A Trifecta Approach To Hope, Imagination, And Possibilities – IMPRI Impact. IMPRI Impact and Policy Research … Continue reading. The Indian government’s capacities remain limited, as evidenced by the deterioration of the country’s Gender Gap Index and democracy^[16]Nigam, S. (2022, 25 octobre). Feminist Foreign Policy In India : A Trifecta Approach To Hope, Imagination, And Possibilities – IMPRI Impact. IMPRI Impact and Policy Research … Continue reading. Regarding the Gender Gap Index, India has dropped 28 places to 140th in the World Economic Forum’s Global Index for 2020-2021^[17]Atchaya, I. (2022b, août 15). The Need for Feminist Foreign Policy in India. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/08/06/the-need-for-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/. Democracy in India is declining, as demonstrates the 6.61 score in 2020, qualifying India as an imperfect democracy according to the criteria established by The Economist^[18]lepetitjournal.com Bombay. (2021, 16 février). En 2020, recul de la démocratie dans le monde et en Inde. … Continue reading. According to The Global Gender Gap Report, 62.5% was the gender gap number in India in 2021^[19]Atchaya, I. (2022a, janvier 18). What India can take away from Mexico’s Feminist Foreign Policy. Modern … Continue reading. These gaps are primarily due to the lack of political representation and executive positions held by women, but also societal factors such as income inequality, lack of healthcare, and literacy rates^[20]Atchaya, I. (2022a, janvier 18). What India can take away from Mexico’s Feminist Foreign Policy. Modern … Continue reading.

India’s gender equality and FFP challenges: deconstructing internally to shine internationally

For India to adopt an effective, inclusive, and exemplary FFP, it must first deconstruct the dominant power structures that internally hinder its growth. Indeed, Indian culture is man-centred, specifically in diplomatic security and defence matters^[21]Atchaya, I. (2022b, août 15). The Need for Feminist Foreign Policy in India. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/08/06/the-need-for-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/ Sharma, R. … Continue reading. Here lies one of the paradoxes of India, which has ambitions of equality, freedom and rights for women whilst the reality is rooted in a patriarchal and discriminatory culture^[22]Sharma, R. & Bhide, P. (2021, 15 janvier). Why India Should Adopt a Feminist Foreign Policy Framework. The … Continue reading. An internal change in patriarchal roles could advance economic and social development and, ultimately, gender equality to achieve a sustainable FFP. Such a change would grant greater credibility and trust in the international sphere regarding its commitment to inclusive policies for peace^[23]Khullar, A. (2021, 17 novembre). Feminist Foreign Policy : A New Innovation for Indian Diplomacy. South Asian … Continue reading.

Furthermore, it is also through the tools of FFP that India could remove the national obstacles oppressing women. A FFP creation in India would be an opportunity to shape an enabling environment for peace in the country, and thus show that India values general and global issues over traditional security challenges^[24]Atchaya, I. (2022b, août 15). The Need for Feminist Foreign Policy in India. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/08/06/the-need-for-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/ Khullar, A. … Continue reading. Adopting a FFP would allow the recognition of India as a peaceful nation supporting the inclusive policies of the international community and showing a more humanistic and positive image of the country’s foreign policy. Its commitment to the values of a FFP would give it a better reputation on the international scene, thereby enhancing its influence^[25]Khullar, A. (2021, 17 novembre). Feminist Foreign Policy : A New Innovation for Indian Diplomacy. South Asian … Continue reading.

In order to make India a model emerging power with a FFP, the country could develop a more holistic diplomacy to maintain its global reputation. The country’s indicators must be improved to remove systemic economic and social barriers to equality. In this sense, improving indicators, such as gender equality, human rights or social justice, could lead to a better representation, inclusion, and empowerment of women in political structures. Women’s participation in thinking or decision-making would help India’s power to grow^[26]Khullar, A. (2021, 17 novembre). Feminist Foreign Policy : A New Innovation for Indian Diplomacy. South Asian … Continue reading. Nowadays, they represent 21.6% of diplomats and ministerial staff and can offer new strategic opportunities, given current and future global challenges^[27]Gopinath, M. (2022, 7 novembre). HTLS 2022 : Time to formulate foreign policy with gender-sensitive approach. Hindustan … Continue reading. For instance, passing a law allowing for equal representation of men and women in Parliament, the latter currently accounting for 33% of seats, could also inspire the diplomatic field^[28]Atchaya, I. (2022a, janvier 18). What India can take away from Mexico’s Feminist Foreign Policy. Modern … Continue reading. In addition, the leadership and inclusion of women in diplomacy would provide a foreign policy with more diverse intellectual perspectives and deconstruct gender and patriarchal biases, such as the idea that women cannot solve difficult problems^[29]Atchaya, I. (2022b, août 15). The Need for Feminist Foreign Policy in India. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/08/06/the-need-for-feminist-foreign-policy-in-india/. As Margot Wallström put it: “More women means more peace. If women are around the table when peace agreements are negotiated, then those peace agreements will last longer^[30]Khullar, A. (2021, 17 novembre). Feminist Foreign Policy : A New Innovation for Indian Diplomacy. South Asian … Continue reading.”

Recommendations

India’s FFP shall not only be applied to diplomatic relations but also implemented in national and local public policies. It is through intersectionality that India will benefit from focusing its FFP. While the Indian societal situation is based hierarchically on patriarchy, caste system, and class and religious prejudices, applying a gender lens to national laws and decision-making would curb the problems of marginalisation and exclusion, which hinder democracy^[31]Nigam, S. (2022, 25 octobre). Feminist Foreign Policy In India : A Trifecta Approach To Hope, Imagination, And Possibilities – IMPRI Impact. IMPRI Impact and Policy Research … Continue reading.

A FFP is modelled according to the country’s diplomatic values and needs. The concept of a FFP is that it is interpretative, since each country has its own FFP. Thus, India will need to further its research and analysis on its foreign policy to challenge and define its own proper FFP. It requires the training of a diplomatic corps on gender equality, women rights and anti-violence against women to adopt and embed a gender perspective across all areas of India’s FFP. Equal representation of women in various foreign policy positions is also a key-element of a feminist foreign policy.

Further upstream research and analysis on the mechanisms and opportunities of Indian foreign policy can help to establish a guideline for the required actions, such as cross-cutting cooperation and exchange work between ministries, based on training programmes (for diplomats, experts and negotiators). For example, feminist evaluation techniques provide explanatory and participatory outcomes^[32]Sharma, R. & Bhide, P. (2021, 15 janvier). Why India Should Adopt a Feminist Foreign Policy Framework. The … Continue reading.

All these elements must constitute the indicators of India’s FFP and will guide its action. The notions of accountability and transparency come into play here to ensure the monitoring of the country’s FFP, its effectiveness and its proper implementation. It also allows civil society to hold the state accountable for implementing an effective FFP. In this case, India will have as responsibility the conveyance of equality and inclusiveness values as well as transparency and representation at all levels. As the FFP is not a fixed issue, new ideas can be employed to develop further the foreign policy’s feminist approach of the country.

To cite this production: Julia Ricci, “Toward the adoption of a feminist foreign policy in India?”, 12.02.2023, Gender Institute in Geopolitics, https://igg-geo.org/?p=11200&lang=en.

The statements in this article are the sole responsibility of the author.