The Limits of Presence: Constraints on Women’s Political Representation in Serbia and Montenegro

Abstract

Women's political representation has increased globally over the past few decades. Women are entering the political world in more significant numbers. This increase is visible among the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Within the last three decades, women have become present in greater numbers across the parliaments of the former Yugoslavia, primarily due to the adoption of gender quotas due to women's movement activism. But is the presence of elected women enough to empower them politically and create "space" for activism, advocacy, and subsequently higher levels of substantive representation? In this work, I pose this main research question and focus on two country case studies from the region, namely Serbia and Montenegro. I argue that women politicians in both countries, despite being present to a greater extent descriptively, face considerable constraints to their political activism within institutions such as parliament, thus limiting the effects they can have in terms of substantive "output" or women-friendly legislation. I highlight several factors that complicate women's political efficacy in the two countries, including a reemergence (and legacy) of authoritarianism, ideological proclivities of ruling parties, and endemic corruption. This work contributes to the regional literature on women's political representation and situates two country case studies in a regional perspective.