This innovative textbook provides students with a lively and wide-ranging introduction to the roles and achievements of women in contemporary politics. Accessibly written for an undergraduate readership, the book addresses both theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding women's participation in politics as candidates, party members, elected representatives, cabinet ministers and leaders. It focuses on the presence of women in formal political institutions across a broad range of countries, including the UK, France, Norway, Germany, Russia, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India, to demonstrate that women are, at last, beginning to exert pressure on political affairs by behaving differently from men.

The book is divided into sections, each of which focuses on a different area of political activity - for example, the development of women's political activism and feminist engagement with political theory; voting and elections; political parties and the specifics of women's partisanship; parliaments; local and international government. Each chapter contains a concise introduction outlining the core issues for discussion, a concluding summary of key points and an annotated guide to further reading.

Women in Contemporary Politics will be an invaluable resource for all students of politics and international relations. It is the only book of its kind to offer such a comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of the theory and practice of politics from the female perspective.

About the Author
Wendy Stokes is Associate Professor of Politics at Richmond, The American International University in London.

Reviews
"This invaluable textbook admirably fulfils its aim of bringing women into the analysis of contemporary politics. It is a must for students on politics courses."

Times Higher Education Supplement

"This excellent and much needed book provides a wealth of information about women's political behaviour and experiences. It challenges both the neglect of women in mainstream politics texts and women's actual absences from positions of political power. It will be an invaluable resource for politics courses which already study women; it should be compulsory reading for lecturers on those which currently don't."

Valerie Bryson, University of Huddersfield

"This clearly written, broad-ranging and accessible book offers a comprehensive account of the burning issues facing women in contemporary politics. Covering local, national and international arenas, Wendy Stokes provides well-selected and up-to-date data on women's role in political parties, parliament, governments and international organizations. This will be an invaluable core textbook for all students of women and politics."Judith Squires, University of Bristol

Book Information
ISBN 9780745624990
Author Wendy Stokes
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Polity Press
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 504g
Dimensions(mm) 246mm * 173mm * 22mm