Publisher Description

The introduction of electoral gender quotas in diverse contexts around the globe has attracted a great deal of scholarly and political interest. To date, research on these measures has focused primarily on quota design, adoption, and effects on the numbers of women elected. While this remains a crucial focus, quotas are not simply about changing the proportion of women in political office. Both supporters and opponents of quotas suggest, albeit from differentperspectives, that positive action for women as candidates will influence the kinds of women elected, the policy-making process as it concerns women's issues, the way citizens view women in public life, andthe relationship between female voters and the political process. Seeking to initiate a "second generation" of research on quotas, this volume is an effort to inspire a new literature focused on theorizing and studying the broader impact of quotas on politics and society. The book is structured in relation to three facets of political representation: the attributes of officeholders (descriptive representation); the promotion of group interests during the legislative process (substantiverepresentation); and the broader cultural meanings and social consequences of political incorporation (symbolic representation). Within each section, the chapters include case studies from four regions ofthe world: Western Europe, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia and the Middle East. This approach recognizes that quotas are a global phenomenon and that research on quotas and representation benefits from a comparative, cross-national approach.The Impact of Gender Quotas is a theory-building and comparative exercise in elaborating concepts commonly used to analyze the broad impacts of gender quotas. The book begins with the argument that the means by which womenenter politics may influence how, why and to what extent their presence affects political representation. Following a preface by Drude Dahlerup, one of the pioneers of gender quota research, the editorsintroduce the book with a conceptual framework for analyzing the impact of quotas, based upon descriptive, substantive and symbolic dimensions of representation. The book is subsequently organized into three sections, each devoted to analyzing one of the dimensions of representation, and each of these sections contains a chapter case study from one of four regions of the world (Western Europe, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia). Each of the chapters follows a basic format institutedby the editors, with the goal of facilitating cross-case comparisons and broad theory-building. The editors conclude the book by summarizing the main themes and implications for future research ongender quotas.

Author Biography

Susan Franceschet is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary; Mona Lena Krook is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis; and Jennifer M. Piscopo is Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Salem College.

Table of Contents

PrefaceDrude DahlerupIntroduction1. Conceptualizing the Impact of Gender QuotasSusan Franceschet, Mona Lena Krook, and Jennifer M. PiscopoPart I: Descriptive Representation2. Parity and Legislative Competence in FranceRainbow Murray3. Gender and Political Backgrounds in ArgentinaSusan Franceschet and Jennifer M. Piscopo4. Quotas and Qualifications in UgandaDiana Z. O'Brien5. Reserved Seats, Patriarchy, and Patronage in MoroccoJames N. SaterPart II: Substantive Representation6. Labels and Mandates in the United KingdomSarah Childs and Mona Lena Krook7. Policy Priorities and Women's "Double Bind" in BrazilLuis Felipe Miguel8. Centralization and Debate Conditions in South AfricaDenise Walsh9. Collective Identities, Institutions, Security, and State-building in AfghanistanAnna LarsonPart III: Symbolic Representation10. Paradoxes in the Meanings of Quotas in BelgiumPetra Meier11. Political Engagement and Democratic Legitimacy in MexicoPär Zetterberg12. Women's Empowerment and Cultural Change in RwandaJennie Burnet13. Politics as a Male Domain and Empowerment in IndiaLori Beaman, Alexandra Cirone, Esther Duflo, and Rohini PandeConclusion14. Themes and Implications for Future Research on Gender QuotasSusan Franceschet, Mona Lena Krook, and Jennifer M. PiscopoNotes on ContributorsIndex

Review

"The editors have united leading experts on quotas and representation in different regions of the world within a superbly crafted common theoretical framework to create an outstanding volume that is both theoretically and substantively enriching. The Impact of Gender Quotas expands our understanding of the effect of electoral gender quotas on descriptive, substantive, and symbolic representation while simultaneously providing an innovative guide for futureresearch in this crucial area of scholarly inquiry."--Mark P. Jones, Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies & Chair of the Department of Political Science, Rice University"This impressive edited collection greatly advances the field of electoral quota research. The unmistakable conclusion is that gender quotas will not work to shift the quality of public decision-making towards advancing women's interests unless grounded in two crucial political evolutions. The first is the emergence of a political constituency with the commitment and capacity to hold politicians of whatever gender to account for performance on women'srights. The second is political party leadership willing to make women's participation and gender equality principles non-negotiable in public decision-making. Though sobering, the authors are right.There are two clear paths for realizing women's rights: strengthening women's autonomous organizing, and building the accountability and transparency of decision-making in political parties."-- Anne-Marie Goetz, Chief Advisor of Governance, Peace and Security, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women"A fine collection EL Highly recommended." --CHOICE

Promotional

A theory-building and comparative exercise in elaborating concepts commonly used to analyze the broad impacts of gender quotas

Long Description

The introduction of electoral gender quotas in diverse contexts around the globe has attracted a great deal of scholarly and political interest. To date, research on these measures has focused primarily on quota design, adoption, and effects on the numbers of women elected. While this remains a crucial focus, quotas are not simply about changing the proportion of women in political office. Both supporters and opponents of quotas suggest, albeit from different
perspectives, that positive action for women as candidates will influence the kinds of women elected, the policy-making process as it concerns women's issues, the way citizens view women in public life, and the relationship between female voters and the political process. Seeking to initiate a "second
generation" of research on quotas, this volume is an effort to inspire a new literature focused on theorizing and studying the broader impact of quotas on politics and society. The book is structured in relation to three facets of political representation: the attributes of officeholders (descriptive representation); the promotion of group interests during the legislative process (substantive representation); and the broader cultural meanings and social consequences of political incorporation
(symbolic representation). Within each section, the chapters include case studies from four regions of the world: Western Europe, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia and the Middle East. This approach recognizes that quotas are a global phenomenon and that research on quotas and
representation benefits from a comparative, cross-national approach.The Impact of Gender Quotas is a theory-building and comparative exercise in elaborating concepts commonly used to analyze the broad impacts of gender quotas. The book begins with the argument that the means by which women enter politics may influence how, why and to what extent their presence affects political representation. Following a preface by Drude Dahlerup, one of the pioneers of gender quota
research, the editors introduce the book with a conceptual framework for analyzing the impact of quotas, based upon descriptive, substantive and symbolic dimensions of representation. The book is subsequently organized into three sections, each devoted to analyzing one of the dimensions of representation,
and each of these sections contains a chapter case study from one of four regions of the world (Western Europe, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia). Each of the chapters follows a basic format instituted by the editors, with the goal of facilitating cross-case comparisons and broad theory-building. The editors conclude the book by summarizing the main themes and implications for future research on gender quotas.

Review Text

"The editors have united leading experts on quotas and representation in different regions of the world within a superbly crafted common theoretical framework to create an outstanding volume that is both theoretically and substantively enriching. The Impact of Gender Quotas expands our understanding of the effect of electoral gender quotas on descriptive, substantive, and symbolic representation while simultaneously providing an innovative guide for future
research in this crucial area of scholarly inquiry."--Mark P. Jones, Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies & Chair of the Department of Political Science, Rice University
"This impressive edited collection greatly advances the field of electoral quota research. The unmistakable conclusion is that gender quotas will not work to shift the quality of public decision-making towards advancing women's interests unless grounded in two crucial political evolutions. The first is the emergence of a political constituency with the commitment and capacity to hold politicians of whatever gender to account for performance on women's
rights. The second is political party leadership willing to make women's participation and gender equality principles non-negotiable in public decision-making. Though sobering, the authors are right. There are two clear paths for realizing women's rights: strengthening women's autonomous organizing,
and building the accountability and transparency of decision-making in political parties."-- Anne-Marie Goetz, Chief Advisor of Governance, Peace and Security, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
"A fine collection EL Highly recommended." --CHOICE

Review Quote

"The editors have united leading experts on quotas and representation in different regions of the world within a superbly crafted common theoretical framework to create an outstanding volume that is both theoretically and substantively enriching. The Impact of Gender Quotas expands our understanding of the effect of electoral gender quotas on descriptive, substantive, and symbolic representation while simultaneously providing an innovative guide for future research in this crucial area of scholarly inquiry."--Mark P. Jones, Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies & Chair of the Department of Political Science, Rice University "This impressive edited collection greatly advances the field of electoral quota research. The unmistakable conclusion is that gender quotas will not work to shift the quality of public decision-making towards advancing women's interests unless grounded in two crucial political evolutions. The first is the emergence of a political constituency with the commitment and capacity to hold politicians of whatever gender to account for performance on women's rights. The second is political party leadership willing to make women's participation and gender equality principles non-negotiable in public decision-making. Though sobering, the authors are right. There are two clear paths for realizing women's rights: strengthening women's autonomous organizing, and building the accountability and transparency of decision-making in political parties."-- Anne-Marie Goetz, Chief Advisor of Governance, Peace and Security, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women "A fine collection EL Highly recommended." --CHOICE

Feature

Selling point: First comparative, multi-country study of the impact of gender quotas across descriptive, substantive and symbolic dimensions of representation
Selling point: Bridges literatures of gender quotas and women's political representation
Selling point: Uses case studies from twelve countries to build broad theories about gender quotas and women's representation

Details