Publication
Title
The rise of gender quota laws : expanding the spectrum of determinants for electoral reform
Author
Abstract
The seminal work of Arend Lijphart, Electoral Systems and Party Systems (1994), limits the definition of electoral reforms to those affecting electoral formulas, district magnitudes, assembly size, or electoral thresholds. Following this definition, studies on electoral reform have put political parties and their motivations at centre stage. Expanding the definition of electoral reform, however, requires a move beyond parties to explore the multiple possible sources of change. This article examines the most common reforms ofrecent years, electoral gender quota policies, and points to at least four explanations for the adoption of gender quota laws. Based on extensive data from gender quota campaigns, the article suggests that the literature on this topic would benefit from efforts to broaden the analytical focus to include the role of agency, group interests, anddiscursive struggles, and to call attention to the possibility of causal diversity by revealing different routes to electoral reform.
Language
English
Source (journal)
West European politics. - London, 1978, currens
Publication
London : 2011
ISSN
0140-2382 [print]
1743-9655 [online]
DOI
10.1080/01402382.2011.555981
Volume/pages
34 :3 (2011) , p. 514-530
ISI
000289633500005
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 27.04.2011
Last edited 15.11.2022
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