Abstract
In this article, we identify Brexit as a critical juncture, wherein the EU has had the opportunity to reflect on and reinforce its identity, as a promoter of gender issues within the security domain. It draws on this identity from a foundational myth of the EU as gender equality polity, resulting in the creation of a socio-legal order and sustained discourse on gender inclusivity in all policy areas. Existing scholarship has drawn attention to the EU’s particular success in gender equality promotion in the areas of social inclusion at member state level, including in the UK. But, is the EU’s reach comprehensive beyond this policy sphere? We examine the ways in which gender is manifested in the area of foreign policy, an area where the UK has consistently shown some leadership on the integration of gender perspectives in its foreign policy through its international development programmes and the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. It is therefore timely to consider what impact Brexit has on EU policies, practices and the promotion of gender equality in this policy domain. Using a critical feminist lens, this article looks at the evolution of gender equality as a dimension of EU foreign and security policy in the context of EU–UK relations, and the divergences, opportunities and constraints that are crystallised by the Brexit process.
Highlights
A significant body of literature has emerged examining the impact of the UK’s departure from the EU on gender equality
As we show, Brexit as a process has either ignored gender or taken it for granted in the same way that the future of security/defence cooperation is approached
By looking at this together, in light of the EU’s renewed commitment to gender in its foreign and security policy, we have examined the extent to which this process can impact on the ambitions of the EU as a foreign and security actor, and a more visible actor in the WPS field
Summary
A significant body of literature has emerged examining the impact of the UK’s departure from the EU on gender equality. Brexit will have an impact on the recourse UK civil society have to inter-European networks and funding (Danisi, Dustin, & Ferreira, 2017; Ritch, 2019) This includes UK civil society actors who have taken an active role in supporting the EU’s engagement in gender-sensitive foreign policy through the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, for example, the UK based Gender Advocacy for Peace and Security. In the aftermath of the 2016 referendum result that is intended to deliver Brexit, European institutions have made specific efforts to better promote the idea of Europe, its norms, and role in global politics through its foreign policies and practices. We conclude with some preliminary thoughts on what this (post-) Brexit space may mean for the practices of an EU common foreign, defence and security policy that takes gender issues seriously
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