Parties as Gatekeepers or Facilitators of Change? The Representation of Women in Politics

Political parties remain the central institutions of representative democracy. They recruit candidates, shape political careers, formulate policy agendas, and determine who gains access to elected office and positions of political leadership. While some parties have actively promoted gender equality through quotas, parity measures, mentorship schemes, and organizational reforms, others continue to reproduce barriers that limit women’s participation and advancement. This panel seeks to bring together scholars investigating the complex relationship between political parties and women’s political representation. The panel aims to foster dialogue across different theoretical traditions and methodological approaches in order to better understand whether, and under what conditions, political parties act as obstacles to or engines of gender equality in politics. By examining how political parties shape opportunities for women’s political participation and representation, the workshop seeks to contribute to broader debates on democratic inclusion, political equality, and institutional change. Possible themes include, for example, how parties implement or circumvent candidate quotas, how they facilitate or hinder women’s access to party leadership; the interplay of formal rules and informal institutions or party culture; how party ideology affects the inclusion of women; intersectionality; youth wings and intra-party organizations. In line with the theme of the Congress, we particularly welcome papers that investigate whether the crises of democracy (such as democratic backsliding or the rise of populism) have impacted how parties include women. We encourage submissions from early-career researchers alongside established scholars.