Epistemological Foundations of Feminist Foreign Policy in the World

Abstract

Feminist foreign policy represents a transformative paradigm in international relations by challenging the androcentric and Eurocentric epistemological foundations of traditional theories. This article analyzes how feminist epistemology—based on situated knowledge (Haraway, 1988), intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1991), and postcolonial critique—redefines foreign policy by shifting its focus from state power to gender justice and the inclusion of marginalized voices. It examines how these theoretical principles translate into concrete practices, analyzing cases such as Sweden, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Chile. While these innovative initiatives promote greater equity in diplomacy and cooperation, they face tensions between Western universalism and cultural diversity, as well as institutional resistance. Their main challenge is to maintain their transformative character in the face of traditional power structures. The article highlights the need for a pluralist epistemology that, without abandoning human rights, engages with non-hegemonic forms of knowledge to build a truly inclusive foreign policy. Its contribution is not only theoretical but also practical: it offers tools to rethink power, security, and global justice from a decolonial and feminist perspective