What’s in a Name? The Presence of Feminist Foreign Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand

The transformative potential of Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) remains elusive despite its rising momentum. First conceptualised as a mechanism for integrating gender equality into foreign policy, FFP is now a contested paradigm with divergent normative underpinnings, balancing ethical ideals and policy pragmatism. The contribution of this thesis is twofold. First, building on theoretical and empirical scholarship, this thesis advances a critical FFP conceptual framework that departs from liberal FFP interpretations and embraces ethical and postcolonial logics. Second, using this conceptual framework, this thesis examines the extent to which Aotearoa’s foreign policy has transformative feminist underpinnings that align with critical FFP. This research addresses the question, to what extent is Aotearoa’s foreign policy feminist? To do this, the author examines the discourse and outcomes of Aotearoa’s foreign policy across all domains, including defence, humanitarian and development aid, trade and human rights policy from 2019–2023. This thesis finds that Aotearoa’s foreign policy sat at a crucial juncture. It demonstrated firm rhetorical commitments to gender mainstreaming and the feminist principles of gender equality, inclusivity, and human rights. However, critical gaps existed in Aotearoa’s implementation of these principles within its foreign policy practice. To champion a transformative feminist agenda, this thesis posits that Aotearoa’s foreign policy must address the power dynamics and gendered hierarchies across all areas of its foreign policy practice.