Women in contemporary politics
"This innovative textbook provides students with a lively and wide-ranging introduction to the roles and achievements of women in contemporary politics. Accessibly written for an undergraduate readership, the book addresses both theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding women's participation in politics as candidates, party members, elected representatives, cabinet ministers and leaders. It focuses on the presence of women in formal political institutions across a broad range of countries, including the UK, France, Norway, Germany, Russia, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India, to demonstrate that women are, at last, beginning to exert pressure on political affairs by behaving differently from men." "Women in Contemporary Politics will be an invaluable resource for all students of politics and international relations. It is the only book of its kind to offer such a comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of the theory and practice of politics from the female perspective."--Jacket
xi, 266 pages ; 26 cm
9780745624983, 9780745624990, 0745624987, 0745624995
60835137
Part I. Feminist Political Theory
1. Feminist Theory and Women's Political Activism
Women, Feminism and Political Theory
Gender and Democracy
Gender and Representation
The Meaning of Presence
Critical Mass
2. Applying the Theory
Initial Problems of Analysis
Do Women in Politics Make Different Choices from Men?
Do Women in Politics Act on Behalf of Women?
Do Women in Politics Possess a Different Style?
Critical Mass
Case Studies: Northern Ireland and Wales
Part II. Voting and Elections
3. Voting and Elections: Background Information
Voting
Global Extension of the Franchise to Women
Women Getting Elected
Electoral Systems
4. Getting and Using the Vote
Achieving the Franchise
Enfranchisement
Research into Women's Political Participation
Gender Gap
Political Parties and Women's Votes
5. Women and Elections
Research into Voting for Women
Barriers to Women's Election
Solutions
6. Quotas for Women in Parties and Parliaments
The Arguments for and Against Quotas
Part III. Women and Political Parties
7. Political Parties: Background Information
Membership of Political Parties
Activism in Political Parties
Party and Electoral Systems
Women and Political Parties
8. Women in Political Parties in the United Kingdom
National Party Organization in the United Kingdom
Parties in Regional Assemblies in the United Kingdom
9. Political Parties outside the United Kingdom
The Republic of Ireland
The Nordic Countries
France
Germany
Russia
The United States of America
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
10. Women's Parties
Women's Parties Defined
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
Icelandic Women's Alliance
Women of Russia and Women's Parties in the Former Soviet Republics
Other Women's Parties
Part IV. Parliaments and Governments. 11. Members and Ministers
Women in Parliaments
Women in Governments
12. Women in Elected Assemblies in the United Kingdom
The Conservative Party in Parliament
The Labour Party in Parliament
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
13. Women in Elected Assemblies outside the United Kingdom
The Republic of Ireland
The Nordic Countries
France
Germany
Russia
The Curious Case of the USA
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Japan
India
Some Other Countries
Part V. Women in Sub-National Government
14. Women in State and Local Government
International Co-ordination and Data
15. Women in Local Government in the United Kingdom
Women's Early Entry into Local Government
The System of Local Government in the United Kingdom
Local Government Elections
Local Councillors
Women's Committees
16. Women in Sub-National Government outside the United Kingdom
The Republic of Ireland
The Nordic Countries
Belgium
Russia and Central-Eastern Europe
The United States of America
Canada
Australia and New Zealand
India and its Neighbours
Some Other Countries
Part VI. Women in International Governmental Organizations
17. Women and the European Union
Structure of the European Union
Equality and the European Union
The Role of the European Parliament
Women Members of the European Parliament
Sex Equality Bodies
Sex Equality Legislation and Directives
Action Programmes
Mainstreaming
18. Women and the United Nations
The Structure of the UN
Sex Equality and the UN
Women in the General Assembly
Sex Equality Institutions within the UN
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
International Conferences
Women as Employees of the UN