A gendered approach to democratic development theory

Abstract

This comparative, cross-national study investigated the role of women in the democratic development over the last thirty years in 180 countries. The main findings were that improvements in female empowerment and gender equality had a positive and causal effect on democratic development over and above modernisation. Therefore, investing in girls’ education and tackling the social structures that keep women’s status low must be considered as core priorities in advancing democracy in the future.