Gender Quotas in Single-Member District Electoral Systems

Co-authored with Dr. Gabrielle Bardal.

Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute, as Research Paper No. 2014/104.
Reprinted in Politics, Groups, and Identities. 1 October 2015.
Reprinted in Translation by the Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue for Dialogue (Arabic).

Conventional knowledge on the effectiveness of gender quotas for enhancing women’s political participation has, to date, been unanimous on the superiority of quotas in proportional representation (PR) systems. Yet this view overlooks the many possible alternatives to implementing gender quotas in single-member district (SMD) systems. This paper studies gender quotas (or temporary special measures, TSMs) in SMD electoral systems. Drawing on case examples from Uganda, France, India and elsewhere, we refute the myth of the incompatibility of quotas in SMDs. Our research investigates and presents multiple ways in which quotas can be successfully implemented in SMDs.