CANADIAN FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY: WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY IN COLOMBIA

Abstract

My Master’s research considers the implications of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Canada’s international development efforts. I use Global Affairs Canada (GAC) projects operating in Colombia as case studies. These projects focus on operationalizing and implementing elements of the WPS agenda. Notably, Canada was one of the first countries to take up the WPS agenda in its Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP). Further, while Canada is understood to be a leader in gender equality on the world stage, there have been mixed reactions to its FFP. Some state it is too radical while others claim feminism has been co-opted by neoliberalism and political institutions and is no longer sufficiently transformational. The use of the WPS agenda to inform gender equal international assistance in conjunction with collaborative efforts between governments and civil society institutions is an avenue for development work. This is especially relevant in the context of the longevity of the WPS agenda and, by association, Canada’s FFP. This thesis argues that Canada has an important role to play in international assistance through its FFP and as it is informed by the WPS agenda. The opportunity to engage seriously with concrete policy efforts for gender equality is critical as sustainable international development must use a feminist approach to achieve a world order which is more equitable for all.