On June 3rd, 2024, the Gender & International Politics programme of Polis180 hosted an engaging and thought-provoking online discussion featuring Ruth Rohde, a researcher and project coordinator at Shadow World Investigations UK. Rohde is also co-founder and programme manager of the Corruption Tracker project. Rohde holds an M.A. in International History and Politics from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Currently, she researches arms trade with a focus on the war in Yemen and corruption in the arms trade. Rohde has also worked on nuclear disarmament policy and research on active Nonviolence and is a listed Emerging Expert of the Forum on the Arms Trade.
The discussion began by exploring the essence of feminist foreign policy (FFP). Rohde explained that there is no single, universal definition of FFP or feminism itself, but instead, it is a framework for addressing gender inequalities with a critical sensitivity to hierarchies like patriarchy. In practice FFP is often reduced to a superficial veneer, masking contradictory actions. For example, Germany advocates for gender-sensitive aid distribution while simultaneously cutting its aid budgets. Similarly, its refusal to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons highlights a pattern of cherry-picking FFP elements that align with broader political goals. Despite these inconsistencies, FFP’s focus on human security—addressing for example health and climate threats—marks a notable shift from traditional state-centric security paradigms. Rohde underscored the importance of holding governments accountable for the gap between their proclaimed commitments and their actions.
Rohde provided a detailed analysis of the role of the arms trade in international politics, describing it as both a mechanism for state signaling and a source of corruption at the individual level. While the arms trade is traditionally seen as a means for states to maintain defense capabilities and reinforce their monopoly on the use of force, it also serves as a lucrative industry for individuals, fueling corruption and perpetuating harm. Using South Africa’s post-apartheid arms trade as an example, Rohde illustrated how prioritizing weapon sales over humanitarian needs, such as providing HIV medication, led to devastating human costs.
Germany’s arms trade relationship with Saudi Arabia was a focal point of the discussion. Following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, Germany imposed an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia, which lasted until late 2023. Despite the embargo, Germany remained involved in the Eurofighter project, supplying parts indirectly to Saudi Arabia through its European partners under long standing joint projects. In 2024, the arms trade was revitalized, influenced by geopolitical interests, including Saudi Arabia’s hydrocarbon resources, its perceived neutrality in conflicts like the Ukraine war, and its role as a stabilizing force in the Middle East. However, Rohde challenged this narrative, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia’s stability is rooted in repression, which includes suppressing political freedoms, repressing migrant populations, and intervening militarily in Yemen with devastating consequences.
The challenges of controlling arms exports to Saudi Arabia are deeply intertwined with geopolitical alliances and dependencies. Rohde noted that Germany’s reliance on Saudi hydrocarbons plays a critical role in shaping its decisions. Moreover, the widespread argument that if Germany does not supply arms, other states will step in, is both flawed and misleading. She explained that while Saudi Arabia sources weapons from various suppliers, its reliance on diverse systems is not without operational disadvantages. Furthermore, halting arms exports could disrupt conflicts, as seen in the potential impact on Yemen’s war if Germany or its European partners had ceased Eurofighter exports.
The discussion also examined the contradictions between Germany’s FFP and its arms exports. While FFP is not inherently pacifist, exporting arms to repressive regimes undermines its value-driven and rights-based approach. Rohde argued that Germany’s current licensing process for arms exports needs reform, suggesting that exports should be denied unless proven to cause minimal harm. She emphasized the importance of prevention and peacebuilding, central tenets of FFP, and called for greater investment in these areas.
Audience questions brought additional depth to the discussion. One participant raised the potential harm to the broader feminist movement caused by Germany’s discrepancies between its FFP rhetoric and its actions. Rohde acknowledged this risk but highlighted the resilience of independent feminist movements, which have long fought against systemic inequalities and toxic power structures. Another participant inquired about changes in Germany’s arms trade practices with other countries, such as Egypt, following the adoption of FFP. Rohde noted a reduction in arms exports to third countries, though weak legislative frameworks and shifting political climates could reverse this trend.
In her closing remarks, Rohde urged attendees to critically evaluate governmental policies, particularly when rhetoric diverges from practice. She emphasized the need for education, advocacy, and grassroots action to hold policymakers accountable and advance feminist approaches in foreign policy. The discussion provided a nuanced exploration of the challenges and contradictions inherent in aligning Germany’s arms trade policies with its FFP principles, leaving participants with a deeper understanding of the complexities involved and a call to actively engage in shaping more ethical and equitable policies.
Organisers: Linda Müller, Noah Heinemann, Lena Wittenfeld, Lara Franken, Justus Pochhammer
Event Report written by: Linda Müller