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Does the Political Participation of Women Matter? Democratic Representation, Affirmative Action and Quotas in Costa Rica

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  • Montserrat Sagot

Abstract

For many countries, despite their adoption of quotas, women's political participation remains low. Costa Rica, however, presents a success story in terms of increasing women's descriptive representation and, as a country which has tried a variety of quota systems, it represents a unique case study. This article looks at the processes which have influenced the evolution of the Costa Rican experience, and the struggle to achieve effective quota law highlights the importance of clear, unambiguous legislation that leaves no loopholes for those resisting its implementation. However, there is also a cautionary note that although quotas can be effective in increasing numbers, the quest by women's organisations to seek transformation can be co‐opted by others leading perhaps to undesired outcomes. The quota system can ensure a higher presence of women but it does not necessarily enhance democracy or social justice, or promote women's interests within the public agenda.

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  • Montserrat Sagot, 2010. "Does the Political Participation of Women Matter? Democratic Representation, Affirmative Action and Quotas in Costa Rica," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(5), pages 25-34, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:idsxxx:v:41:y:2010:i:5:p:25-34
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/idsb.2010.41.issue-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Cornwall, Andrea, 2014. "Women's empowerment: what works and why?," WIDER Working Paper Series 104, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. van den Bold, Mara & Quisumbing, Agnes R. & Gillespie, Stuart, 2013. "Women’s empowerment and nutrition: An evidence review:," IFPRI discussion papers 1294, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Alan Piper, 2019. "An Investigation into the Reported Closing of the Nicaraguan Gender Gap," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 144(3), pages 1391-1413, August.
    4. Andrea Cornwall, 2014. "Women's Empowerment: What Works and Why?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-104, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Carlo Murer & Alessandra Piccoli, 2022. "Affirmative Policy in Nepal’s Community Forestry: Does it Make a Difference in Terms of Social Sustainability?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, May.

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