Shaping Representation: The Interplay of Electoral Systems and Contextual Factors Influencing Female Political Representation in Post-Soviet Countries

This thesis examines multifaceted determinants of female political representation in the post-Soviet countries, with a specific focus on the interplay between institutional frameworks, such as electoral systems, gender quotas, and broader political, economic, cultural and religious factors. While electoral components play a significant role in shaping female political representation, their efficiency is affected by deep-rooted individual and societal norms, historical legacies and political culture that influence women in obtainment of a political power. The study implements a comparative, mixed-methods approach that analyzes historical background, electoral data, specifics of political environment and overall women’s participation in the post-Soviet region. The findings of the research indicate that electoral systems are crucial in shaping female political representation; however, institutional frameworks demonstrate different outcomes dependent on political and socio-cultural landscapes of each country. The thesis contributes to a nuanced understanding of gender policy and female political representation in the post-Soviet states, providing insights to profound reasons of women’s underrepresentation in the regional politics.