Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION: GENDER AND DEMOCRACY -- WHY?
by Azza Karam

• Shifting Focus: From the Road to Parliament to
  Making Inroads in Parliament
  
  • The Need for More Research
    
  • Looking Beyond Numbers
    
• Background and Outline of the Handbook
  
  • Target Audience
    
  • Limitations of the Handbook
    
• Further Reading
  
• Footnotes
  

OBSTACLES TO WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION
IN PARLIAMENT
by Nadezdha Shvedova

• Political Obstacles
  
  • Masculine Model of Politics
    
  • Lack of Party Support
    
  • Co-operation with Women's Organizations
    
  • Education and Training
    
  • Electoral Systems
    
• Socio-Economic Obstacles
  
  • The Feminization of Poverty and Unemployment
    
  • The Dual Burden
    
• Ideological and Psychological Hindrances
  
  • Traditional Roles
    
  • Lack of Confidence
    
  • The Perception of Politics as "Dirty"
    
  • The Role of Mass Media
    
• In Summary
  
• References and Further Reading
  
• Footnotes
  

-- CASE STUDIES

• In Search of Political Power --
  Women in Parliament in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon
  by Gehan Abu-Zayd
• The Challenge of Transition -- Women in Parliament in Russia
  by Nadezhda Shvedova

ENHANCING WOMEN'S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: LEGISLATIVE RECRUITMENT AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
by Richard E. Matland

• The Legislative Recruitment Process and Its Impact on Women
  • Selecting Yourself
  • Getting Selected by the Party
  • Getting Elected
• The Effect of Electoral Systems on Women's Representation
  • Advantages of PR Systems
  • Why Some PR Systems are Better than Others
• Lessons for Expanding Women's Representation
• References and Further Reading
• Footnotes

USING QUOTAS TO INCREASE WOMEN'S POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
by Drude Dahlerup

• What are Quotas?
  • Quotas: Pros and Cons
  • Two Concepts of Equality
• The World of Quotas
  • Quotas through Constitution or National Legislation
  • Quotas through Political Parties: The Nordic Case
• In Summary
• References and Further Reading
• Footnotes

-- CASE STUDIES

• A People Marching -- Women in Parliament in Costa Rica
  by Karen Olsen de Figueres
• Class, Caste and Gender -- Women in Parliament in India
  by Shirin Rai

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT: MAKING A DIFFERENCE
by Azza Karam and Joni Lovenduski

• Making Inroads in Parliament
  • Critical Mass
  • Rules Strategy
• Learning the Rules (Understanding to Operate more Effectively)
  • Institutional/Procedural
  • Representation
  • Impact/Influence on Output
  • Discourse
• Using the Rules (Seize Opportunities to Participate)
  • Institutional/Procedural
  • Representation
  • Impact/Influence on Output
  • Discourse
• Changing the Rules (Changing Existing Rules and Structures)
  • Institutional/Procedural
  • Representation
  • Impact/Influence on Output
  • Discourse
• Criteria for Measuring Success
• Strategies to Enhance Impact
• References and Further Reading
• Footnotes

DEMOCRACY THROUGH PARTNERSHIP: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
by Christine Pintat

• IPU's Plan of Action
  • Getting the Facts
  • Changing Attitudes
  • Men and Women in Partnership
  • A New Social Contract
  • Women's Political Input and Impact
• References and Further Reading
• Footnotes

-- CASE STUDIES

• Women Empowered -- Women in Parliament in South Africa
  by Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini
• Credo on Difference -- Women in Parliament in Norway
  by Hege Skjeie

CONCLUSION: BEYOND TOKEN REPRESENTATION
by Azza Karam

• The Issues and the Obstacles
• Overcoming Obstacles
• Making an Impact
• International Efforts
• Footnotes

ANNEXES

• Towards Effective Implementation of International Women's Human Rights Legislation
• About the Contributors and the International IDEA Gender Advisory Board
• Organizations Promoting Women's Political Participation in Parliaments
• About International IDEA