GENDER QUOTAS AND 'WOMEN-FRIENDLY' CANDIDATE SELECTION: EVIDENCE FROM BELGIUM

Belgium is one of the world leaders with regard to gender quotas, with strict rules for gender parity being imposed on political parties. Nonetheless the question remains as to whether these requirements for gender-equal list formation have led to women-friendly candidate selection procedures. Notin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Representation (McDougall Trust) 2014-07, Vol.50 (3), p.337-349
Main Author: Vandeleene, Audrey
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Belgium
Legislative Bodies
Political Campaigns
Political Parties
Quotas
Representation
Selection Procedures
Sex
Statutes
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Summary:Belgium is one of the world leaders with regard to gender quotas, with strict rules for gender parity being imposed on political parties. Nonetheless the question remains as to whether these requirements for gender-equal list formation have led to women-friendly candidate selection procedures. Noting a gap in research on this topic, this article proposes a definition of 'women-friendly' candidate selection procedures and then analyses nine Belgian political parties along two axes: who is in charge of selections and how the selection process is organised. Using data from interviews as well as party statutes, the article seeks to explore the broader meaning of gender quotas for candidate selection processes, above and beyond increasing women's representation in parliament.
ISSN:0034-4893
1749-4001
DOI:10.1080/00344893.2014.951222