Having begun with Sweden’s introduction of the world’s first explicit feminist foreign policy (FFP), which was initially met with “giggles” and doubt, FFPs have gained significant traction in contemporary global affairs. A foreign policy of a country is generally how a country conducts its relations with other countries in the world. ‘Feminist’ derived from the theory of feminism refers to the stance of advocating for political, economic and social equality of all genders. An ideal working definition for an FFP would thus be a:
...policy of a state that defines its interactions with other states and movements in a manner that prioritizes gender equality and enshrines the human rights of women and other traditionally marginalized groups, allocates significant resources to achieve that vision and seeks through its implementation to disrupt patriarchal and male-dominated power structures across all of its levels of influence (aid, trade, defense and diplomacy), informed by the voices of feminist activists, groups and movements.” (Clement & Thompson, n.d., p. 7)
This article thus offers an overview of the Chilean FFP.
Chile’s Feminist Foreign Policy Framework
In March 2022, the government of Gabriel Boric announced its shift towards adopting a feminist foreign policy. This was followed by the official presentation of Chile’s FFP by Minister Alberto van Klaveren, the Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente and the Under Secretary of International Economic Relations, Claudia Sanhueza.
As an extension of the government’s emphatic focus on human rights, the novel policy attempts to establish gender equality as a guiding principle in the work arena of the Foreign Affairs Ministry instead of merely relegating the responsibility to smaller departments. Often known as a ‘living document’, the FFP was portrayed by the Gloria de la Fuente “as a strategy of international insertion in accordance with the challenges posed by the global agenda” (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, 2023, para. 2).
With progressive track record of gender mainstreaming with initiatives such as: the inclusion of gender related clauses in trade agreements; establishment of a feminist government with 14 ministers, out of the 24, being women, and the 2020 Global Trade and Gender Agreement (GTAGA) between Chile, Canada, New Zealand, Columbia, Mexico and Peru, as depicted in Figure 01, the policy promotes participation, inclusion, transversality and intersectionality under the 8 priority themes of: Strengthening Democracy; Empowerment and Representation; Women, Peace and Security (WPS); Trade and Gender; Climate Change; Science; Technology and Innovation; and Healthcare (The Gender Security Project, n.d.):
Figure 01
Chilean Feminist Foreign Policy Framework
Note. The image is an AI generated image portraying the four areas promoted by the Chilean FFP and the 8 priority themes.
According to the Gender Security Project (n.d.), the policy becomes participatory and inclusive since it recognizes that gender gaps are obstacles for democracies and therefore should be designed in a way that it benefits each and everyone. It becomes transversal since it aims to make the approach to gender equality a norm that would lead all areas of work and engagement of the Foreign Ministry. Furthermore, it becomes intersectional, since it recognizes the structural violence and the impact of overlapping identities that exist in the interactions between various genders in varying contexts.
What measures have been taken to put the policy into practice?
Various measures have been initiated at the institutional level to ensure that the benefits of the gender-sensitive framework would extend from the local institutional level to the international level. Portraying progressive signals of a successful policy implementation, it established monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to weigh the outcomes of the measures taken. Having recognized the flaws of predecessors who had adopted feminist foreign policies without follow-up mechanisms, a Gender Affairs Division was established by the Foreign Ministry to oversee the implementation of the policy.
In addition, Chile also dedicated a website to track the progress while ensuring regularly updated information and explanatory materials and clearly communicated monitoring mechanisms.
The Minister further signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which seeks to establish a framework for collaboration in this area. As a part of this cooperation the action plan would be resumed following the identification of the gender gaps existing within the institution. As the final phase of the program, a certification will be issued after the final evaluation recognizing the Under Secretariat as one conforming with the gender equality standards which acts as a cornerstone for the success of the FFP.
Efforts have also been extended to increase the count of women in embassies while acknowledging that the feminist foreign policy agenda extends beyond numbers (Winter, 2023). Furthermore, for the purpose of ensuring the continuity of the policy while promoting greater women’s participation in decision-making spaces, the policy has also proposed the establishment of an Advisory Committee of Experts which will provide strategic advice to the authorities to reach progress on parity by 2030.
Why is the Chilean FFP significant?
With its feminist policy, Chile has become the first South American country to have adopted an FFP. Apart from this, several historical and structural factors portray the significance of the policy. With a history of being governed by conservative and centrist parties which resisted progressive gender policies and even left-leaning administrations often contesting such policies and its history of authoritarianism with the military dictatorship of Pinochet that involved severe suppression of women, it is surprising for a left-wing government to push for gender mainstreaming at an international level.
The FFP is also a significant departure from the country's conservative backdrop with the Catholic church having a strong influence on Chilean politics and society, particularly on abortion and reproductive rights. It is also a departure from the strong machismo culture in Chilean society with the persistence of gender-based violence, wage gaps and limited political representation of women.
The adoption of the feminist policy is also a shift from Chile’s traditionally pragmatic and trade focused foreign policy which prioritized economic interests over social justice. This shift thus suggests a redefinition of national priorities, emphasizing human rights and gender justice alongside trade and diplomacy.
What challenges lie ahead for the Chilean FFP?
Despite the progressive efforts, the Chilean FFP also faces certain obstacles. Chile would have to face challenges in the implementation of the policy when conducting its trade and diplomacy with non-feminist regimes like China and West Asian nations with which it has strong economic ties.
Furthermore, given Chile’s unsatisfactory gender equality status in the domestic arena especially in relation to high rates of femicide, wage gaps and lack of comprehensive reproductive rights, there lies a possibility of the creation of a policy paradox when advocating for feminist principles in its foreign policy. This scenario is furthermore highlighted with the statement of the Under Secretary Gloria de la Fuente which emphasized that despite the progress achieved overtime, the rate of women ambassadors in 2023 was only 30% (Winter, 2023), far from reaching parity.
The policy could also face backlash from conservative segments ranging from the opposition parties to businesses to the general public who believe feminist policies to be ideological rather than strategic.
In addition, given the inconsistency of many global FFPs which were criticized for being symbolic rather than substantive, Chile has the challenge of proving its commitment, ensuring that its foreign policy is not just a statement but a long-term actionable strategy supported by resources and institutional reforms.
Chile’s FFP thus marks a bold redefinition of national priorities, positioning gender equality as a fundamental pillar of diplomacy. By embedding feminist principles into international engagement, Chile is not only challenging its own historical and structural constraints but also setting a precedent for other nations. However, the success of this policy depends on its resilience against both domestic and international resistance. Its true impact will be measured by its ability to sustain long-term institutional change, bridge the gap between rhetoric and action, and navigate global complexities while maintaining its commitment to gender justice. If Chile succeeds, it will not only transform its own diplomatic landscape but also inspire a new global standard for inclusive and equitable international relations.
References
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile. (2024, March 4). Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents Chile’s feminist foreign policy and announces new ambassadors. https://www.minrel.gob.cl/news/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-presents-chile-s-feminist-foreign-policy-and
The Gender Security Project. (n.d.). Feminist foreign policy – Chile. https://www.gendersecurityproject.com/feminist-foreign-policy-countries/chile
Thompson, L., & Clement, R. (2019). Defining feminist foreign policy. International Center for Research on Women. https://www.icrw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ICRW_DefiningFeministForeignPolicy_Brief_Revised_v5_WebReady.pdf
Winter, B. (2023, December 19). A spotlight on Chile’s feminist foreign policy. https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/a-spotlight-on-chiles-feminist-foreign-policy/
