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Post-Communism, General & Miscellaneous European History, Eastern Europe - General & Miscellaneous History, Europe - General & Miscellaneous - Politics & Government, Eastern Europe - Politics & Government
Women in Power in Post-Communist Parliaments by Marilyn Rueschemeyer — book cover

Women in Power in Post-Communist Parliaments

by Marilyn Rueschemeyer (Editor), Sharon L. Wolchik
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Overview

Women in Power in Post-Communist Parliaments examines the life and work of women who have reached positions of political power after the end of communism in Europe. It explores the roles they have adopted, the relationships they have cultivated, and the agendas they have pursued. Much of the literature on women in post-Communist states has focused on one or two countries. This volume treats the issues comparatively, in six countries—the Czech Republic, Germany (with a focus on the former GDR), Slovenia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Russia. It also includes interviews with and written statements by the very "women in power" discussed in the first half of the book, giving voice to their common and divergent experiences as political actors within an environment of stormy economies and new foreign engagements, particularly with the European Union.

Synopsis

Women in Power in Post-Communist Parliaments examines the life and work of women who have reached positions of political power after the end of communism in Europe. It explores the roles they have adopted, the relationships they have cultivated, and the agendas they have pursued. Much of the literature on women in post-Communist states has focused on one or two countries. This volume treats the issues comparatively, in six countries — the Czech Republic, Germany (with a focus on the former GDR), Slovenia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Russia. It also includes interviews with and written statements by the very "women in power" discussed in the first half of the book, giving voice to their common and divergent experiences as political actors within an environment of stormy economies and new foreign engagements, particularly with the European Union.

About the Author, Marilyn Rueschemeyer

Marilyn Rueschemeyer is Professor Emerita of Sociology at the Rhode Island School of Design and currently chairs the European Politics Series at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. Her books include Professional Work and Marriage: An East-West Comparison and Women in the Politics of Postcommunist Eastern Europe.

Sharon L. Wolchik is Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University. She is author of Czechoslovakia in Transition: Politics, Economics, and Society and editor (with James R. Millar) of The Social Legacy of Communism.

Reviews

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Editorials

Feminist Review

"By not focusing on the post-communist superstar, this book draws a nuanced picture of the various women serving as members of parliament in the post-communist era.... As the women describe their routes to parliament and their work there, they create an account of their experiences with and in power that is comparable to those of women in the West." —Elisheva Zakheim, Feminist Review

— Elisheva Zakheim

The Russian Review

"[T]his is a well-researched and well-organized volume. It should be standard reading for both scholars interested in woman politicians generally and post-Communist politics in particular. Its importance lies in the questions that it raises, perhaps more so than the answers it provides." —The Russian Review

Slavic Review

"The volume fills an important scholarly gap by examining transitions in the political, economic, and social spheres of the postcommunist world.... [A] real empirical contribution to the study of women in power." —Slavic Review

Contemporary Sociology

"[T]his edited volume is an important addition to the comparative literature on women in politics. It helps illuminate gender politics in an important, unique, and understudied region.... Overall, this niche-filling book is a welcome addition to the libraries of both political sociologists and gender scholars. It is a valuable resource, whether used for reference or instruction." —Contemporary Sociology

Book Details

Published
July 1, 2009
Publisher
Indiana University Press
Pages
256
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780253221698

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