Routledge Sharing Power: Women, Parliament, Democracy

Product Description The representation of women in parliament is a subject of extensive research and a focus for political action in the last decade. The wide variation in women's parliamentary presence contradicts the expectation that established or consolidated democracies are more supportive of the presence of women in political life than emerging democracies. This volume explains this variation through a series of closely investigated case studies from the post-Communist transition democracies of Eastern Europe and emerging democracies in Asia and the Middle East to the long-established liberal democratic states. The volume examines the history of women's legislative involvement, clearly addressing the issue of equal opportunities for women in political life on a cross-national basis. It also identifies innovative solutions to redress the power-sharing balance between women and men. Offering a unique comparative perspective, Sharing Power will appeal to students and scholars of politics, women's studies, history and legislative studies. Review ’...an excellent collection that brings together an impressive group of authors...Their insightful, clear and timely observations and analyses are of interest to anyone concerned about contemporary democratic politics.’ Professor Joni Lovenduski, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK 'This impressive collection...offers new insights in explaining the variations of women's representation in national legislatures and the impact of women parliamentarians on policy making. Using a common framework, the volume examines a wide range of countries, moving beyond the politics of Western Europe and North America to include the experiences of the post-Communist democracies of Eastern Europe and emerging democracies in the Global South...required reading in Comparative Politics courses...an extremely valuable resource for students and specialists in the field of Women and Politics.' Professor Diane Sainsbury, University of Stockholm, Sweden About the Author Dr Yvonne Galligan is from Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Manon Tremblay is from University of Ottawa, Canada.