Karin Aggestam

Sweden's feminist foreign policy (FUP), which was pursued between 2014 and 2022, involved a more strategic anchoring and communication of the country's state feminist tradition and commitment to justice in world politics. The emphasis on gender equality as the basis for foreign policy was largely based on the UN's agenda for women, peace, and security (WPS). Digital diplomacy and social media, which at the time of the launch of FUP had established themselves as key communication channels, played an important role in conveying Sweden's ambition to take on global leadership in issues of structural feminist change. Through digital diplomacy, Sweden's feminist foreign policy became a high-profile “political brand” among like-minded global actors, which was also embraced by others. This article analyzes the relationship between Swedish feminist foreign policy and its close connection to UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. Particular emphasis is placed on Sweden's strategic use of digital diplomacy to communicate FUP with a focus on leadership, brand policy, and visual communication. The article helps to shed light on Sweden's relationship to the WPS agenda through FUP and deepens the analysis of how a foreign policy commitment to gender equality is influenced by cultural and technological conditions for political influence and global reach.