Deutsche feministische Außenpolitik: Auswirkungen für Afrika

This briefing analyzes the impact of Germany's new feminist foreign policy on its relations with Africa, specifically examining the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's (BMZ) 2023 Africa Strategy. While the author acknowledges the potential for a positive realignment based on respect and reciprocity, the document argues that the current approach is inconsistent, primarily limiting feminist principles to development cooperation rather than integrating them across all foreign policy domains such as security, trade, and climate policy.

• The BMZ's January 2023 Africa Strategy, titled 'Gemeinsam mit Afrika Zukunft gestalten', represents the first concrete application of the current coalition government's feminist foreign policy within international development cooperation. It aligns itself with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), shifting toward a partnership based on solidarity rather than unilateral decisions.
• There is a significant incoherence in the application of feminist principles, as they are largely confined to 'soft' areas of development cooperation. The author notes that feminist approaches are missing from other critical focus areas such as sustainable economic development, poverty eradication, health, and peace and security, meaning the strategy is not yet a holistic foreign policy.
• The feminist development policy explicitly aims to dismantle structural inequalities, including racism and post-colonial continuities, and advocates for the rights of marginalized groups such as LGBTQI* individuals, indigenous peoples, and people with disabilities.
• In the realm of peace and security, the author argues that Germany should move beyond formal structures to support grassroots feminist organizations. This is necessary to address the specific vulnerabilities of queer people and women in conflict zones, where patriarchal norms often intensify during crises.
• The current economic approach in the Africa Strategy fails to incorporate a feminist analysis of 'care work' (unpaid labor primarily performed by women), focusing instead on the circular, digital, and green economies. The author contends that integrating women into an unequal system without addressing these structural failures is insufficient.
• Regarding climate change, the document criticizes the German state for adopting a 'masculinist protector' role. While the strategy mentions indigenous rights, it is accused of ignoring the actual contributions and priorities of indigenous communities in climate protection, thereby maintaining a pattern of Western ignorance.
• The BMZ's approach to migration is described as more just and pragmatic than that of other European nations, particularly through its inclusion of the African diaspora. However, the author urges Germany to use its leadership within the EU to move away from framing migration as a 'crisis' and to address intersectional vulnerabilities related to racism and homophobia.

APA

Haastrup, T. (2023). Deutsche feministische Außenpolitik: Auswirkungen für Afrika. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/de/deutsche-feministische-aussenpolitik-auswirkungen-fur-afrika

Chicago

Haastrup, Toni. Deutsche feministische Außenpolitik: Auswirkungen für Afrika. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/de/deutsche-feministische-aussenpolitik-auswirkungen-fur-afrika.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haastrup |first1=Toni |title=Deutsche feministische Außenpolitik: Auswirkungen für Afrika |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=12 May 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/de/deutsche-feministische-aussenpolitik-auswirkungen-fur-afrika |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haastrup2023deutsche, author = {Haastrup, Toni}, title = {{Deutsche feministische Außenpolitik: Auswirkungen für Afrika}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://afripoli.org/de/deutsche-feministische-aussenpolitik-auswirkungen-fur-afrika}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }