Abstract

Although the benefits associated with the presence of women in political decision-making positions are uncontested, global statistics relating to the number of women in political leadership roles paint a disappointing picture of underutilized resources. While rights-based advocacy, quotas, and economic incentives are commonly posited as effective strategies to increase the number of women active in public spaces, several studies have shown that the law alone is not sufficient to bring about changes in gender norms unless the underlying structural constructs that perpetuate inequalities privileging dominant groups are addressed first. Conflict, especially when driven by rejection of those inequalities, can hasten reform by exposing entire systems and practices to scrutiny and revision, thereby serving as a more effective catalyst for women’s political advancement.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2026

Publication Information

58 NYU Journal of International Law and Politics Online Forum 38-85 (2026)

Download

Share

COinS