Inspiration or Provocation?: Sweden’s Feminist Foreign Policy in National Newspapers in EU Member States

An increased emphasis on gender equality in the EU’s foreign and security policy could potentially pave the way for a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) for the EU. Analysing the perceptions of Sweden’s FFP in newspapers of eleven EU Member States, this article contributes to the literature on norm enhancement – advancing the depth and scope of the existing norms in an area – as well as to the discussion on Member States’ views of FFP and the potential for introducing a FFP into EU foreign policy. Studying salience, (in)coherence and legitimacy of Sweden’s FFP in newspapers, the results demonstrate that FFP is most frequently reported in like-minded countries, and least reported in Member States with conservative views on gender equality. There is also a dividing line between left-leaning and right-leaning newspapers, with the former reporting considerably more and being more positive towards Sweden’s FFP. The relative lack of interest in Sweden’s FFP in some Member States, as well as the critique from especially right-leaning newspapers, suggest that a FFP for the EU is not likely to come about in a near future. Feminist Foreign Policy, European Union, Sweden, external perceptions, norms, media analysis