Alla Roșca, Doctor Habilitatus in Political Science, Associate Researcher at Edgewater Research, Adjunct Professor at Xavier University of Louisiana, President of the World Affairs Council of New Orleans, USA (WACNO)
The article “Women’s Leadership and Democracy” examines the importance of women’s participation in democratic processes and its impact on strengthening democratic institutions. The author emphasizes that the involvement of women in political leadership positions contributes to more inclusive, diverse, and equitable governance. The study focuses on post-Soviet states, exploring the relationship between women’s political representation and democratic development through concepts such as descriptive and substantive representation, critical mass theory, and intersectionality. Statistical analysis reveals a moderately positive correlation between the number of women in parliaments and global democracy scores, while also highlighting the specific characteristics of post-Soviet contexts. The article draws attention to persistent challenges, such as cultural barriers and institutional biases, as well as the paradox of high female representation in certain authoritarian regimes. The conclusion proposes a complex approach to fostering women’s political participation and reforming democratic institutions toward greater inclusiveness and equity.
This article is part of the collective volume “Women Leaders and Democratic Transformations”—a recent editorial publication produced within the project “SPERANȚA – School for Young Women Leaders from Both Banks of the Nistru River”, supported by the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Moldova and implemented by the Foreign Policy Association (APE).
