
No Shortcuts to Power
African Women in Politics and Policy Making
Zed Books Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 1. May 2003
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-84277-146-4 (ISBN)
Description
Whatever the other shortcomings of representative democracy in the world today, one issue that remains only partially resolved is the political participation and policy impact of one half of the population -- women. This book examines this question in the context of two countries, South Africa and Uganda, which in this regard have accomplished much more than most (including the Western democracies).
How did women achieve some 30% representation in both national and local political institutions in these countries? How far did women's mobilization in civil society play a part? How sustainable are these gains likely to be? And of equal importance, there are the questions around the impact of women politicians on policy. Here the volume examines two litmus test pieces of legislation -- around land in Uganda and gender violence in South Africa.
What emerges is that the political routes to increased female participation vary and the solidity of the gains made depends much on the strength of the gender-equity lobby in society at large. What is more, participation does not necessarily translate into effective policy influence enhancing the position and interests of women.
How did women achieve some 30% representation in both national and local political institutions in these countries? How far did women's mobilization in civil society play a part? How sustainable are these gains likely to be? And of equal importance, there are the questions around the impact of women politicians on policy. Here the volume examines two litmus test pieces of legislation -- around land in Uganda and gender violence in South Africa.
What emerges is that the political routes to increased female participation vary and the solidity of the gains made depends much on the strength of the gender-equity lobby in society at large. What is more, participation does not necessarily translate into effective policy influence enhancing the position and interests of women.
Reviews / Votes
'An exciting, timely and well-conceptualised book that will be of immense value in the fields of politics, development and gender studies.'Professor Amina Mama, African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town
'One of best books ever to make the intellectual case for women's engagement in politics.'
Professor Kathleen Staudt, University of Texas at El Paso
'Offers a very interesting, quite subtle, comparision of the ways women have influenced but also utilised political institutions established by the new political regimes in South Africa and Uganda.'
Vicky Randall, University of Essex
'For teachers looking for that "one book" on African women and contemporary politics, this would be an excellent choice.'
African Studies Review
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-84277-146-4 (9781842771464)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Anne Marie Goetz is a political scientist and Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.
Shireen Hassim is a political scientist and lecturer at the Department of Political Science of the University of Witwatersrand.
Shireen Hassim is a political scientist and lecturer at the Department of Political Science of the University of Witwatersrand.
Content
Contents
Preface
1. Introduction: Women in Power in Uganda and South Africa - Anne Marie Goetz and Shireen Hassim
2. Women's Political Effectiveness - A Conceptual Framework - Anne Marie Goetz
3. Representation, participation and democratic effectiveness: Feminist challenges to representative democracy in South Africa - Shireen Hassim
4. The Problem with Patronage: Constraints on Women's Political Effectiveness in Uganda - Anne Marie Goetz
5. The Politics of Engagement: Women Transforming the Policy Process - Domestic Violence Legislation in South Africa - Sheila Meintjes
6. The 'Lost Clause' - The Campaign to Advance Women's Property Rights in the Uganda 1998 Land Act - Sheila Kawamara-Mishambi and Irene Ovonji-Odida
7. Democratising local government: Problems and opportunities in the advancement of gender equality - Likhapha Mbatha
8. Gender Equity and Local Democracy in Contemporary Uganda: Addressing the Challenge of Women's Political Effectiveness in Local Government - Josephine Ahikire
Preface
1. Introduction: Women in Power in Uganda and South Africa - Anne Marie Goetz and Shireen Hassim
2. Women's Political Effectiveness - A Conceptual Framework - Anne Marie Goetz
3. Representation, participation and democratic effectiveness: Feminist challenges to representative democracy in South Africa - Shireen Hassim
4. The Problem with Patronage: Constraints on Women's Political Effectiveness in Uganda - Anne Marie Goetz
5. The Politics of Engagement: Women Transforming the Policy Process - Domestic Violence Legislation in South Africa - Sheila Meintjes
6. The 'Lost Clause' - The Campaign to Advance Women's Property Rights in the Uganda 1998 Land Act - Sheila Kawamara-Mishambi and Irene Ovonji-Odida
7. Democratising local government: Problems and opportunities in the advancement of gender equality - Likhapha Mbatha
8. Gender Equity and Local Democracy in Contemporary Uganda: Addressing the Challenge of Women's Political Effectiveness in Local Government - Josephine Ahikire