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New Trends in Women and Politics in Africa

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The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies

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Abstract

This chapter looks at the increase in women as legislators, presidents, prime ministers, chief justices, and in other political leadership roles that took place after 1990 in Africa. It explores the reasons for this increase, linking it to political liberalization and a decline in major conflicts on the continent. It also took place within the context of changing international norms regarding gender equality, resulting in authoritarian and democratic rulers alike seeking internal and external legitimacy by promoting women as political leaders. Women’s movements similarly played a key role in bringing about these changes. The article shows the limits of many of the arguments used to explain women’s leadership cross-nationally and how they do not necessary explain African dynamics. Regional dynamics and even subcontinental dynamics need to be accounted for.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Aili Mari Tripp

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  1. Aili Mari Tripp
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Correspondence to Aili Mari Tripp .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Nigeria

    Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

  2. Department of History, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Toyin Falola

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  1. No affiliation provided

    Elsada Diana Cassells

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Tripp, A.M. (2020). New Trends in Women and Politics in Africa. In: Yacob-Haliso, O., Falola, T. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_153-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_153-2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-77030-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-77030-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference HistoryReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    New Trends in Women and Politics in Africa
    Published:
    28 November 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_153-2

  2. Original

    New Trends in Women and Politics in Africa
    Published:
    01 October 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_153-1

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