Representation is not just about who gets elected. It is also about who gets access to decision makers. Orly Siow, Ashlee Christoffersen and Ceri Fowler conducted research into the engagement between government ministers and NGOs. Their findings reveal striking inequalities in who gets access to political decision-makers
Sexism in politics restricts women’s participation and weakens democracy. A study by Hilde Coffé and colleagues on the 2024 legislative elections in Belgium reveals the impact of sexist attacks, stereotypes, and dismissals on women candidates, shaping careers, silencing voices, and discouraging future leaders. Tackling these problems is crucial for building truly representative politics
The new German Bundestag will be smaller and more right-wing wing. And it will be more male-dominated. Corinna Kröber and Lena Stephan discuss how the political shift to the right and the new electoral law have influenced this trend, and the potential long-term consequences for women’s political representation in Germany
Across the Amazon, Indigenous women are at the forefront of the fight for democracy, environmental justice, and human rights. In a world where extractive industries threaten their land and lives, they are not just resisting destruction — they are transforming political systems, writes Camila Montero. From grassroots mobilisation to high-level policy-making, their leadership is shaping the future of environmental democratic governance
In recent years, gender equality has become a major political battleground. At the heart of this conflict is the 2011 Istanbul Convention to combat violence against women. Andrea Krizsán and Conny Roggeband examine which factors drive support or opposition to the Convention, across a variety of European countries
As Donald Trump's executive order on gender identity sends shockwaves through North America, Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre's calculated silence during a recent TV interview reveals how American cultural battles are crossing borders. Elie Kallab examines how this strategic pivot threatens to fundamentally alter Canada's democratic landscape A profound shift in North American […]
Far-right politicians around the world have mastered the art of epistemic warfare, posing a serious threat to academic freedom. Iris B. Segers reflects on the challenges of feminist resistance to a bizarre political reality rife with lies
In just one month, a bill equating abortion with homicide reached the voting stage in Brazil’s Lower House. How did this happen? Daniel Baldin Machado examines how a decade of institutional changes has reshaped legislative processes to sideline scrutiny, deepen gendered biases, and weaken democratic accountabilit
Germany heads to the polls on 23 February, amid an economic recession. Renée Krug, Stefan Wallaschek and Pauline Ahlhaus analyse the parties' main election programmes, and show how, in contrast with left-wing parties, those on the right rarely address gendered economic inequalities and LGBTQI rights. With polls indicating a CDU-led government, gender-related issues are at risk of being sidelined — or even reversed
Illiberal Hungary has become famous in recent years for paying families to have, or pledge to have, children. This, writes Eva Fodor, has transformed the criteria and practice for social citizenship and democratic participation
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