Flavia Freidenberg

Federalismo electoral, fortaleza de las cuotas de género y representación política de las mujeres en los ámbitos subnacionales en Argentina y México

This article focuses on the design of subnational gender quotas in Argentina and Mexico and its connection with women’s representation. Specifically, a measurement index of the strength of quotas legislation is developed to examine its impact on the rates of women legislators elected after 2011-2013 subnational elections in both countries. The findings reveal that the strength of quotas has increased the voting of provincial female legislators in Argentina, while the weaknesses of Mexican legislation provide larger leeway to political parties and increase the elites’ strategical behavior when choosing female candidates to local congresses. According to these findings political actors and their strategic behavior must be prioritized, and the impact of the parties’ internal disputes and compromises should be taken into account.

Politics and Digital Media: An Exploratory Study of the 2014 Subnational Elections in Ecuador

The transformations of political party systems challenge democratic representation given that parties maintain a predominant role connecting citizen’s preferences to policy making through the election of authorities. Representation is also challenged by the spread of digital social networks, which modify the way in which both political actors and the public communicate about politics. However, it is unclear in how far platforms like Twitter overcome traditional ways of political communication. The aim of this chapter is to analyze the political uses of digital media in a multilevel party system during an electoral period. The main question it deals with refers to the extent politician’s tweets do connect territorial agendas. The study focuses on the 2014 subnational elections in Ecuador, an incongruent multilevel party system dominated by non-traditional parties, despite traditional parties still play a relevant role. With an exploratory aim the study focuses on a selection of politicians from the provinces of Guayas and Pichincha and the municipalities of Guayaquil and Quito.

Breaking Concrete, Glass and Cash Ceilings: Conclusions and Policy Recommendations from Scholars and Practitioners

Latin American countries traditionally have been ruled by men. Since independence, historical narratives, social relations, and politics have been defined by and for men. Over the last few decades, however, advances in the recognition of women’s rights have been momentous. Changes have involved the breaking of barriers and the elimination of discriminatory norms and practices that were deeply embedded in political institutions. One of the most visible changes was the increasing number of women elected to important public offices (as legislators and, more recently, as presidents). The key measures that precipitated greater female access to power were gender quota laws and regulations promoted by women’s politicians, women’s movements, and international agencies.

Women, Politics, and Democracy in Latin America: An Introduction

In Latin America, increases in women’s political participation and their access to power have transformed national congresses, from their agendas to their organization (UNDP 2015; Htun and Piscopo 2014; Rodriguez Gusta 2011). Over a relatively short period, a number of democratic transitions, constituent assemblies, electoral and institutional reforms have provided opportunities for the advancement of women’s political and social rights (ECLAC 2014). According to data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU 2015) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC 2015), the average number of female national legislators in lower houses in the Americas increased from 9 % to 27 % between 1990 and 2015. In the same period, practically all Latin American countries introduced electoral gender quotas or parity regulations in their electoral codes or constitutions. In 2016, Bolivia ranked as the second highest in terms of number of women in the legislature in the world (53 %), only coming behind Rwanda. In Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador, and Nicaragua, over 40 % of legislators are women.