The persistent underrepresentation of women in politics poses a fundamental challenge to European democracies. Political institutions remain far from inclusive, and the representation of underrepresented groups is under strain. Gender and other axes of identity have increasingly become sites of political contestation. Backlash against diversity initiatives, violence against women politicians, and hostility towards equality among far-right movements underscore that political representation is neither linear nor irreversible. Representation gains are fragile, as evidenced by the first drop in the share of women MPs in the European Parliament in decades. Understanding what continues to prevent underrepresented groups from reaching, staying, and progressing in elected office is therefore more urgent than ever.
This panel examines the barriers that influence political representation and participation, using the legislative recruitment model as its basis. Exclusion operates throughout a political career, not just at entry, and through multiple actors: candidates themselves (self-selection), parties (recruitment and selection), and voters (electoral support). Stereotypes, discrimination, and hostility shape who enters, advances, and exits politics. Gender remains central to understanding political representation, but it is only part of the story. After all, women are not a homogeneous group. Access to political office is conditioned by the intersection of identities such as (but not limited to) age, ethnicity, religion, social class, sexuality, and disability, which can create distinct forms of prejudice.
We welcome papers addressing any of these dimensions across democratic contexts, stages of political careers, and levels of governance. Contributions may examine pathways into and out of office, from local politics to national and supranational institutions. We are particularly interested in submissions that engage with gender in innovative ways and value those adopting an intersectional perspective. Methodologically, this panel is open to quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method contributions, with particular appreciation for work grounded in foundational approaches (e.g., surveys, survey experiments, interviews, focus groups) that remain sensitive to social identity and intersectionality.
At a moment when political representation remains fragile, this panel brings together research on the obstacles that persist, and those newly emerging, in legislative recruitment, to better understand what still stands between underrepresented groups and their representation in politics.
