Workshop: Parties as Gatekeepers or Facilitators of Change? The Representation of Women in Politics

Political parties remain the central institutions of representative democracy. They recruit candidates, shape political careers, formulate policy agendas, and determine who gains access to elected office and positions of political leadership. While some parties have actively promoted gender equality through quotas, parity measures, mentorship schemes, and organizational reforms, others continue to reproduce barriers that limit women’s participation and advancement.

This workshop seeks to bring together scholars investigating the complex relationship between political parties and women’s political representation in Europe. The workshop aims to foster dialogue across different theoretical traditions and methodological approaches in order to better understand whether, and under what conditions, political parties act as obstacles to or engines of gender equality in politics. By examining how political parties shape opportunities for women’s political participation and representation, the workshop seeks to contribute to broader debates on democratic inclusion, political equality, and institutional change.

We welcome contributions examining the role of political parties as institutions that shape women’s access to political power at local, regional, national, and supranational levels in Europe. Possible themes include candidate recruitment and selection; gender quotas and parity measures; women’s access to party leadership; informal institutions and party culture; party ideology and representation; intersectionality; youth wings and intra-party organizations.

We encourage submissions from early-career researchers alongside established scholars. We will be able to reimburse limited accommodation and travel expenses for paper-givers, with the exact ceilings to be communicated at the time of acceptance. 

Submission Guidelines: Please submit an abstract of up to 300 words together with a short bibliographical note. Abstracts should clearly outline the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, and expected findings.

Important Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: 19 August 2026
• Notification of acceptance: Mid-September 2026
• Workshop date: 3-4 December 2026

Contact

For submissions and enquiries, please contact: anna-lena.hoegenauer@uni.lu.