C01(a) - Feminist Perspectives on Canadian Foreign Policy I
Date: Jun 2 | Time: 08:45am to 10:15am | Location:
Chair/Président/Présidente : Heather Smith (University of Northern British Columbia)
Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Nadege Compaore (University of Toronto)
Session Abstract: In 2003, Claire Turenne Sjolander, Deborah Stienstra and Heather Smith expressed hope that their volume, Feminist Perspectives on Canadian Foreign Policy (OUP 2003, 11), would “encourage our students to ask questions, and thus become our teachers, and to never, never, accept the received wisdom of ages without first launching the challenge: ‘but what about gender?’”. The proposed panel takes up this challenge and asks about gender and feminist perspectives across a variety of issue areas that fall broadly under the aegis of Canadian foreign policy. Included on this panel are papers that focus on the developing narrative of a feminist foreign policy in Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces deployment and training of all female teams in Jordan, and commitments to feminist foreign aid under the Trudeau Liberal governments from 2015-2020. The panel also includes a paper by a feminist activist who discusses Canada’s feminist foreign policy from the point of view of a member of the non-governmental organization community. Taken together the papers on this panel reminds us of the value of interrogating mutiple sites and sources of Canadian foreign policy through feminist lens. This is the first of two linked panels on feminist perspectives on Canadian foreign policy.
Human Rights in Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy Narrative: Tensions and Contradictions: Fiona Robinson (Carleton Univeristy)
Abstract: This paper analyzes the developing feminist foreign policy narrative in Canada. It begins from the understanding that a state’s foreign policy narrative constructs its identity and its relations with other states and non-state actors, making action possible by making space for some practices and policies, while foreclosing possibility for others. Using this understanding of narrative as the basis of its methodological approach, this paper asks the following questions: i) what are the defining logics that frame this new narrative?; ii) what is revealed by analyzing the turn to feminist foreign policy in the historical context of prior narratives of ethical or ‘principled’ foreign policy in Canada? and iii) to what extent does the narrative create spaces for the development of feminist solidarities across borders, and to what extent does it serve to re-inscribe existing relations of power? The paper will address three key features of the developing narrative that point to tensions and contradictions in the normative feminist aspirations of feminist foreign policy in Canada: first, the use of liberal human rights language, which demonstrates continuity with prior narratives of principled foreign policy in Canada, and thus a failure to recognize feminism as a radical challenge to the politics of liberal internationalism; second, the emphasis on ‘smart economics’ which suggests a sustained commitment to policies which deepen the marginalization of women that feminist foreign policy seeks to mitigate; and finally, a discourse of ‘individualized’ feminism, which exists in tension with key feminist ontological and normative commitments to relationality and solidarity.
A Few Good Women:” Canadian Feminism in and through training All-Female Platoons : Leigh Spanner (Mount Saint Vincent University)
Abstract: In 2017, service women of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) were deployed to Jordan to train its first all-female platoon. Female soldiers are considered essential to military operations, for their ability to access and engage people and places that are off-limits to male soldiers. Alongside this initiative, Canada claims a feminist ideology by promoting “feminist” foreign policies, which aim to enhance gender equality and empower women. This paper considers how the CAF’s deployment and training of all-female teams in Jordan negotiates Canada’s feminist identity in global and domestic politics by analyzing media coverage, political rhetoric, and engaging feminist theory. That the “Canadian value” of gender equality is shared through military service represents a departure from, and is in tension with, a feminist foreign policy prioritization of inclusive peace processes and an eradication of gender-based violence. By providing anti-ISIS training, a form of international aid, Canada shores up its “humanitarian” and “peacekeeper” identity by coopting equality, particularly feminism. Combat training for Jordan’s all-female platoon is deemphasized, while the contributions to refugees and reducing instances of sexual violence with non-violent strategies, such as educating and communicating with local communities is celebrated. Consequently, the military’s privileging masculinity and maleness is reasserted. Simultaneously, a Canadian moral superiority is asserted on the basis of a progressive gender norms in contrast to the Jordanian “Other.” Therefore, the systemic issues of gender issues in the CAF, such as sexual misconduct, are obscured and depoliticized.
Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy: A View from the Trenches: Beth Woroniuk (Equality Fund)
Abstract: In June 2017, the Trudeau government released the Feminist International Assistance Policy. This was followed by the launch of an updated National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. By 2018, officials were explicitly calling Canada’s foreign policy ‘feminist’. Gender equality issues figured high on the official agenda during Canada’s chairing of the G7 summit. However, to date, there is no policy document outlining what this means or involves.
There is much debate amongst feminist activists in Canada on how to push the government to turn broad policy statements on feminist foreign policy into concrete actions, investments and positions across all foreign policy sectors. We are defining feminist approaches to climate action, security, human rights defenders, disarmament, peace, trade, corporate responsibility, development assistance, peacekeeping, multilateral institutions, and more. And we are engaging with numerous players (politicians, government officials, global activists, academics, the private sector…) to advance these agendas.
This is not a typical academic paper. Rather it starts from my position as someone actively involved in these discussions and initiatives. It will outline various strategies used by activists and discuss the contradictions and tensions we are constantly negotiating. In addition to unraveling some of the many challenges faced in pushing for a more feminist approach to foreign policy, the paper will point to concrete ways alliances among academics and practitioners/activists can be more productive.
As Good as it Gets? Canada's Feminist Foreign Aid Commitments: Rebecca Tiessen (University of Ottawa)
Abstract: This paper considers commitments to feminist foreign aid under the Trudeau Liberal governments from 2015-2020. Beyond the critical discourse analyses of the feminist international assistance policy, several federal commitments to promote gender equality demonstrate significant progress in achieving feminist principles and priorities, including Canada's new funding envelope for sexual and reproductive health and rights and investments in feminist and qualitative data collection. While additional strategies are needed to ensure a comprehensive, inclusive and intersectional commitment to gender equality, this paper documents the significance of feminist innovations in Canada's foreign aid policy over the past five years. The policies and commitments examined in this paper are considered in light of the broad spectrum of feminist theoretical frameworks guiding analyses of feminist foreign aid policy.