Beschreibung
Why study the nexus of gender, politics and democracy in Asia? What kind
of democracy and political participation can we conceptualize and identify
for this heterogeneous region? In the increasingly visible Asian context,
which concepts, contexts, discourses and practices do we need to reflect
upon most in order to understand the complex relationship between gender
and democratic processes? The authors in this book engage with precisely
these crucial questions, and do so by drawing on a variety of case studies
covering India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia. In the process, they
scrutinize women’s roles, strategies, practices and discourses on
political participation and gender-inclusive political reform in various
arenas of political engagement. Contributions to this volume range from
studies of political actors and institutions, public policy and gender
mainstreaming, political theory and citizenship discourses, to the study
of various women’s movements.
Andrea Fleschenberg is DAAD Long Term Guest Professor at the Qaid-e-Azam
University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Claudia Derichs is the Chair for Comparative Politics and International
Development Studies at the Institute of Political Science,
Philipps-University Marburg, Germany.
“As gendered political problematiques are further complicated by the
diverse contexts of Asian life, struggles or claims toward change made
by and for women must go beyond mere laundry-list statistics and must
pay critical attention to details – after all, it is in these details
that one would find democracy. (.) Talking about these details,
narratives of contentions and small victories that fall in the cracks of
the bigger tale of “formal” politics must also be recognized. Thus, in
weaving the dynamic unfolding of the story on women and
politics in Asia – whether as agents and/or beneficiaries of
change – we must make a conscious effort to continually unearth
“alternative” democracies that emerge as responses to various
adversities that women face in the region. And this book contributes
exactly to that.”
Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Assistant Professor, Ateneo de Manila
University, Philippines
“Most of us are aware of the constraints faced by women when and if they
want to venture into public space. These constraints are all the more
difficult when politics is the name of the game and when women
themselves organise to overcome these hurdles to demand their rights in
very difficult contexts and terrains. This is where the strength of the
book comes through: in narrating and analysing the contradictory
dynamics within women’s organisations and movements in confronting
patriarchal walls, be they of the state, political institutions and/or
even of their own communities, particularly in the context of convoluted
democratic transitions and identity politics. (.) The differing
struggles with varying outcomes are important sign posts and lessons for
those interested in the nexus of gender, politics and democracy in South
and Southeast Asia.”
Cecilia Ng, Visiting Professor Women’s Development Research Centre
(KANITA), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
