Gender and democracy in an era of democratic decline

Jane S. Jaquette

Chapter 12 in Handbook on Gender in World Politics, 2026, pp 71-76 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter looks at how democratic transitions and women's political mobilization—two “waves” of the last quarter of the 20th century—reinforced each other, with positive effects on women's rights and empowerment. It notes that the literature on women's political participation has focused almost entirely on making the case that democracies need women to be “fully democratic” but does not emphasize how women need democracy to consolidate their advances and maintain robust civil societies in which they play critical roles. More research is needed on how the rise of authoritarianism and the weakening of the liberal international order are affecting women's rights and participation and on the resources women and women's groups can draw on to respond to these challenges. This chapter looks at how democratic transitions and women's political mobilization—two “waves” of the last quarter of the 20th century—reinforced each other, with positive effects on women's rights and empowerment. It notes that the literature on women's political participation has focused almost entirely on making the case that democracies need women to be “fully democratic” but does not emphasize how women need democracy to consolidate their advances and maintain robust civil societies in which they play critical roles. More research is needed on how the rise of authoritarianism and the weakening of the liberal international order are affecting women's rights and participation and on the resources women and women's groups can draw on to respond to these challenges.

Keywords: Democratization; Women's Political Participation; Authoritarianism; Liberal International Order (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803923765
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