Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy
Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy
Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy
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WOMEN IN LOCAL<br />
LEVEL POLITICS<br />
Social accountability <strong>and</strong> public participation<br />
BY SUMONA DASGUPTA, INDIA<br />
Involvement of women in local politics is critical <strong>for</strong> their political <strong>and</strong><br />
economic empowerment.<br />
Yet across the world there are several impediments to this process.<br />
Patriarchies cut through cultures <strong>and</strong> institutions across the world,<br />
sometimes in more open <strong>for</strong>ms, at other times in a more subtle hidden<br />
manner even as it may differ in the degree in which it can affect<br />
women’s participation in politics.<br />
This paper will begin with examining the term “local politics” <strong>and</strong><br />
critically discuss the factors that both enable <strong>and</strong> inhibit women from<br />
entering this space.<br />
It will also analyse what difference women can or have made as<br />
elected representatives at the local level both in rural <strong>and</strong> urban spaces<br />
drawing from examples <strong>and</strong> case studies across the world.<br />
Finally it will explore some of the best practices of advocacy strategies<br />
that promote the role of women in local politics.<br />
ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
Sumona DasGupta is a Political Scientist <strong>and</strong> independent research consultant based in New<br />
Delhi. She is currently senior research consultant with Society <strong>for</strong> Participatory Research in Asia<br />
(PRIA). Her research <strong>and</strong> publications focus on issues of governance <strong>and</strong> democratic dialogue,<br />
conflict <strong>and</strong> peace building, <strong>and</strong> South Asian politics. Gender is a cross cutting issue that in<strong>for</strong>ms<br />
all of her work. Her book ”Citizen Initiatives <strong>and</strong> Democratic Engagements: Experiences from India”<br />
from 2012 looks at issues concerning women’s political leadership in local governance as one<br />
of the issues covered.<br />
ABOUT THE PHOTO<br />
A villager casts her vote in a polling booth in Nungmaikhong village, Manipur, India. About 62 percent<br />
of the 802,000 registered voters voted in an incident-free second phase of Lok Sabha (Lower<br />
House of Parliament) elections <strong>for</strong> the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency on April 22nd<br />
2009. (Photo by Sanjit Das/Panos Pictures).<br />
WOMEN IN POLITICS DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DEMOCRACY PAGE 23
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