WAW, No Women? Foucault’s Reverse Discourse and Gendered Subjects in Diplomatic Networks

This study has two aims. Empirically, it examines women ambassador networks, hitherto overlooked in diplomacy scholarship. Such women-only networks are fascinating, as they cut across state-based alignments that typically shape diplomatic networks. Using Women Ambassadors of Warsaw (WAW) a case, the analysis is based on interviews with its members 2020. Theoretically, aim to draw Michel Foucault’s notion “reverse discourse” build upon but trouble prior attempts theorise place and femininities diplomacy. Rather than coherent scripts or stable roles, I argue, “women” better conceived discursive subject position unstable, contradictory reversing. Indeed, WAW articulate surprisingly shifting claims about rationales network. Reverse discourse provides leverage for understanding these shifts, article contends, also shows difficulties reversing fragmented discourse.