Feminist Foreign Policy and Nepal

Nepal’s foreign policy has long been shaped by realist notions of sovereignty and survival, what scholars call the “yam between two boulders” dilemma. This leaves little room for gender-responsive or feminist perspectives. Yet, as Nepal seeks to align its global engagements with its domestic commitments to gender equality, questions arise about how gender is communicated, institutionalized, and contested within its foreign policy discourse. This paper analyzes the (im)possibility of Nepal’s feminist foreign policy (FFP) through the lens of Feminist Institutionalism (FI). It examines how formal rules and informal gendered norms interact to shape women’s rights, representation, and resources across diplomatic and policy arenas. Drawing on policy analysis and 40 key informant interviews, the study reveals that gender equality is rhetorically promoted but institutionally marginalized. Using the 3R framework (Rights, Representation, and Resources) the analysis demonstrates how patriarchal norms, political patronage, and weak institutional mechanisms sustain symbolic rather than substantive inclusion. The paper argues that despite progressive domestic laws and international gender equality commitments, Nepal’s foreign policy discourse remains largely gender-neutral and sometime gender-blind, reproducing masculinized narratives of security and diplomacy. By applying FI to Nepal’s FFP debates, the study illustrates how gender responsive policies are advanced or resisted. It concludes that advancing a feminist foreign policy in Nepal requires genuine commitment to transforming persistent patriarchal cultural practices and aligning national and global commitments to create an inclusive, peaceful, and equitable foreign policy practice.