Gender Quotas and International Reputation

Abstract

The global spread of electoral gender quotas has been characterized as one of the most significant institutional developments of the last 30 years. Many of the countries that have adopted these laws designed to increase women's political representation are electoral autocracies that have otherwise‐stark gender inequalities. Some scholars argue that electoral authoritarian states have adopted quotas as a strategy for improving their international reputations for democracy. This article represents the first exploration of whether quotas really generate reputational boosts. Using large‐scale survey experiments in Sweden and the United States concerning hypothetical developing countries, we find that they do. In particular, audiences perceived electoral autocracies as more democratic and were more likely to support giving them foreign aid when women's descriptive representation was greater. Beyond its contribution to our understanding of gender quotas and women's representation, this article contributes to broader debates about international reputation, human rights, and foreign aid attitudes.

International incentives for women’s rights in dictatorships

“…In the Maghreb, monarchies and civilian regimes alike have used women’s economic and social rights—including reform to family law—to push back against more conservative opposition movements (Tripp, 2019). Another prominent area of reform sought by the international community seeks to advance women’s political representation through legislative gender quotas (Bush & Zetterberg, 2020; Krook, 2006; Krook & True, 2010; Paxton et al, 2006; Swiss & Fallon, 2017). While women’s representation is a valued outcome which can have positive effects on policy, the effect on autocratic survival is often minimal; quotas can be designed and implemented so as not to threaten legislative control, particularly in regimes governed by institutionalized ruling parties (Bjarnegård & Zetterberg, 2016; Muriaas & Wang, 2012).…”

How Do Electoral Gender Quotas Affect Policy?

“…The same might be said for failed or weak states with gender quotas, such as Somalia or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moreover, there is emerging evidence that the adoption of electoral gender quotas provides legitimacy to authoritarian or hybrid regimes, enabling them to engage in human rights abuses or consolidate authoritarian control (Bush & Zetterberg 2020, Donno & Kreft 2019, Valdini 2019. Longman (2006) describes this sort of occurrence in Rwanda, in which a women-majority parliament presents an appealing veneer to the international community as the president solidifies authoritarian rule (cf.…”

Study of Experience of the Application of Gender Quotas in the Political Sphere of the Eu Countries and Ukraine Through the Prism of Efficiency

“…For example, in the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, the results of elections to party structures are considered invalid if women make up less than one third of the nominees [CDU, 2019], and according to the rules of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, its central body must be at least 40% of each gender [Sozialdemokratischen partei deutschlands, 2019].…”