A Foreign Policy for All

This thesis explores the portrayal of Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) within right-wing conservative print media through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The FFP has the intention of incorporating feminist values into the processes used to make foreign policy decisions. The policy seeks to address the systemic injustices that oppressed groups, especially women, experience due to variables like religion, disability, gender, or sexual identity. By addressing gaps in legal protection, the policy highlights the necessity of equal involvement in decision-making processes. The increasing rise of right-wing influence in the German parliament makes this research pivotal to understanding how right-wing media influences public perception. Therefore, the following research question will guide the analysis: “What are the framing strategies employed by German right-wing news media in the representation and interpretation of the Feminist Foreign Policy?” The study focuses on five German newspapers: Die Welt, Bild, Junge Freiheit, Focus, and Cicero, selected for their conservative alignment and high circulation rates within Germany. Using purposive sampling, 45 articles published between March 2023 and August 2023 were analyzed to discover the framing strategies used in media discourse surrounding the FFP. The analysis is structured around Huckin’s framework, dissecting language and narrative techniques, revealing how conservative media constructs specific narratives about feminist policies, highlighting underlying biases and ideological stances. The findings show that right-wing media frame the FFP within a context of criticism and skepticism, making deliberate linguistic choices to shape public perception. The most common discourses used to represent and interpret the FFP are: Criticizing Annalena Baerbock, the propaganda of the Greens Party, FFP misinformation, connecting the FFP to humanitarian crises, immigration discourse, and lastly, support shown toward the FFP. A theme of national identity emerged as a critical lens through which the FFP was evaluated. While pro-policy articles framed it as a step toward advancing worldwide gender equality, the majority of articles framed the policy as a threat to Germany’s traditional values and reputation. This contradiction draws attention to the influence of media framing on public perception and discourse. The framing reflects conservative ideologies and strengthens broader socio-political power structures. Therefore, the study contributes to the understanding of how media influences public discourse and offers insights into the role of language in shaping political narratives.