Women’s Political Representation in Central and Eastern Europe: Enduring Legacies Complex Realities Amid the Promise of Progress

Using the foundational framework of political representation first introduced by Pitkin’s seminal book The Concept of Representation, this work explores the progress made within women’s political representation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Using the foundational framework of political representation first introduced by Pitkin’s seminal book The Concept of Representation, this work explores the progress made within women’s political representation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). After the region’s history and collective present are explored, later chapters discuss three countries, Serbia, Poland and Moldova, in greater depth. The work argues that despite the many durable challenges that women face in CEE, women politicians and activists continue to advocate for progress and, in some cases, succeed in passing meaningful reforms. But the fate of this progress remains tenuous, given the many pervasive and enduring challenges that exist in the region, including a rise in authoritarianism and accompanying right-wing populism. The book also situates the CEE region in a global context, recognizing that the impediments CEE women in politics face are shared by women in politics around the world, suggesting a difficult path ahead.