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This book explores the politics of gender and democracy in post-communist Europe. Utilising the concept of political representation, the book scrutinises women's legislative presence and highlights the opportunities and obstacles to parity democracy in this region of Europe. The book examines the link between women's membership of national parliaments and the substantive representation of gender interests. It investigates the role of civil society, the state and the European Union in representing women's interests and in promoting gender politics. The book provides an important and timely contribution to the classical political questions of who represents, what is represented, and how representation takes place. In adopting an integrated approach to political representation, the book extends current understanding of this fundamental concept. Using new research, it provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis of the interplay between emerging democracies and gender politics in post-communist Europe.
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This book is a must read for researchers and students interested in the intersection of gender and democracy in newly democratic states, as well as the role of supranational entities such as the EU in transforming the norms and practices in member states. Voluntas 21/2010 Readers of this book will gain a broad overview of the main themes affecting women's political participation in post socialist Europe, and hopefully it will whet the appetite for further exploration of the many nuances and differences which are also evident in the region. CEU Political Science Journal. Vol. 5, No. 1 February 2010 There has been a steady stream of scholarship on gender and politics in post-communist states indemocratic transition, but this book combines serious empirical research with a normative consideration of gender equality. It is an impressive cross-national survey of post-socialist states, utilising an array of qualitative and quantitative data to build a convincing argument about the complex interplay of culture, institutions, and agency effects upon gender politics, yet with the stated intent of giving voice to politically engaged women in these countries. [...] This is a compelling account of the history of the women's movement in post-socialist Europe, and a very useful contribution to the scholarship of gender equality in political institutions. Politics & Gender 5 (3)/2009
