Female Quotas in Africa

Sociology and Political Science Essay

Comparative Themes in Society, Politics and Culture

Question Title: What does this article (‘Real or illusory progress? Electoral quotas and women’s political participation in Tanzania, Eritrea and Uganda’) tell us about the link between gender equality in the electoral process and wider social and economic equality in the three African states it studies?

This article discusses much of the political impact that the introduction of quotas has had on the three African states that it case studies, Tanzania, Eritrea and Uganda but also manages to give examples of how these quotas may affect life in these states outside as well as inside the political sphere.

In my discussion of this article I will deal with the idea of quotas and the necessity for their involvement in African politics, the affects both positive and negative which they have had and finally the resulting wider social and economic equality that may have arisen due to their installation.

Because it is widely felt that women’s active participation in politics and governance is a basic requirement for the advancement and development of any state the introduction of a scheme most clearly seen in African states, ‘Electoral Quotas’, have been introduced. Described as a “mechanism to speed up women’s participation in political life” (Ward: 2006: 75), quotas are a prescribed or an enforced minimum percentage of female or male representation in local or national government. These quotas were introduced due to the obvious under-representation and therefore misrepresentation of women in politics, so allowing for immediate involvement in exercising female political thought and input. This had become an agenda for women’s human rights internationally and this form of discrimination was sought to be a thing of the past by not only women’s movements around the world but those organisations in agreement that without female participation in this sector, peace and equality may never be achieved.

Quotas may be applied through three separate measures. Firstly through a constitutional decree by which amendments to the constitution are made in which it becomes a right of any citizen of the state, secondly through legislation whereby the law is changed by the courts through political agreements in national government or thirdly and most simply through measures adopted voluntarily by political parties. When quotas are introduced through legislation or constitutional amendments they are basically forced upon the government through law normally guaranteeing that a minimum number of seats be reserved for women but when it comes to voluntary quotas it can be a different story. Parties may not always be so honestly generous with handing out positions to women without the inclusion of incentives through state funding which can help parties during political campaigns. Also if it reflects well on a party to have female members then this will increase production of much desired votes.

Possibly the greatest explanation for the ease at which these quotas have been introduced in the African states is that they have come at a time when past traditions are being destroyed due to post colonial revolutions and so have allowed for a whole new set of rules to be written up in accordance with the natives self autonomy. In the majority of cases in Africa, quotas have emerged in a state led manner and are not casually related to the electoral system nor due to any form of ideology on behalf of the state. “In 2002 the African Union adopted a gender equality rule which set a goal of 50% participation by women in its Commission” (Ward: 2006: 80). As it is claimed that the outcome of quota use in each of the three case studies has been similar when it comes to the effectiveness of increasing numbers let us see how each has adapted and evolved around to its own political circumstance.

It is difficult to see the results of its use in Eritrea due to the simple fact that this state only established itself in 1991, quotas were introduced in 1997 and in 1998 a state of emergency was declared so everyday politics have been held in suspense. Quotas of 30% for women in national and regional office were enshrined in the new constitution written up in 1997 after liberation from Ethiopia but due to unstable politics there have only been local and regional elections. The desire for quotas may come from the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front as mass organisation of women in the movement led to social and cultural change. Originally women couldn’t vote but had to negotiate through male relatives at council meetings. Positive gains can be seen as there are now women in high ranking party positions and those elected to local and regional councils in all districts so this presence