Reimagining India’s Foreign Policy Through a Feminist Lens: Prospects and Challenges

Author(s)	Papu Hazra
Country	India
Abstract	This paper examines the prospects and challenges of reimagining India’s foreign policy through a feminist lens by situating it within broader debates on progressive foreign policies. It argues that while Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), largely developed in the Global North, emphasizes gender equality, inclusivity, and human security, it often reproduces entrenched global power hierarchies. In contrast, India’s foreign policy, shaped by postcolonial priorities such as sovereignty, anti-racism, and self-determination, presents an alternative normative framework but remains limited in addressing gendered concerns. Drawing on postcolonial feminist theory, the study critically explores the intersections and tensions between these approaches. Through a discourse-oriented analysis of India’s multilateral engagements, particularly within the United Nations system, it demonstrates how gender, race, and colonial legacies continue to shape policy narratives. The paper further identifies pathways for reimagining India’s foreign policy through a context-sensitive feminist approach. It concludes that while such a transformation holds significant potential, it is constrained by structural and institutional challenges.
Keywords	Feminist Foreign Policy; India; Postcolonialism; Gender Equality; Intersectionality; Diplomacy.
Field	Sociology > Politics
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-08

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