This book studies the adoption and diffusion of gender quotas in Latin America and beyond. Gender quotas are institutional mechanisms intended to increase the proportion of women rapidly and effectively in key decision-making political posts. Since the 1980s, gender quotas have been implemented in various governmental bodies and, more commonly, in legislatures. Starting in Northern Europe, these policies have expanded to other European countries and later to thirteen Latin American countries. Yet, whereas gender quotas in most European countries - with the exception of Belgium and France - have been adopted voluntarily by some political parties, in Latin America national legislation mandates all parties to include in their lists a quota for women candidates to legislatures. Although recent scholarship on gender quotas has been devoted to the adoption of gender quotas in a variety of countries, little has been done on Central and South America, despite the fact that the legislative "quota wave" originated there. Diffusion of Gender Quotas in Latin America and Beyond remedies that situation and provides a rich comparative analysis of this policy proliferation in Latin America as well as outside this region by also examining the adoption of legislative quotas in Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia.

Since the return of democracy to Latin America, policies intended to promote the inclusion of women and other underrepresented groups have been increasingly adopted throughout the region. Gender quotas have been one of the most popular and effective mechanisms employed in elections and other contexts in Latin America. This volume begins with an introduction to gender quotas, including discussion of the types and merits of gender quotas, alternative approaches to the study of quotas, and their interactions with different kinds of electoral systems. Successive chapters examine the adoption of gender quotas and their impacts in the three largest South American countries by area-Argentina, Brazil, and Peru-at both national and subnational levels. These chapters also focus on specific topics that stand out in the unique experiences of these countries: substantive representation in the case of Argentina, gender and campaign finance in the case of Brazil, and regional differences in the impact of electoral rules in the case of Peru. Through careful analysis, this volume presents a nuanced picture of how different types of electoral systems may affect the election of women and the effectiveness of quotas.

This book is a follow-up volume to Same-Sex Marriage in the Americas: Policy Innovation for Same-Sex Relationships published by Lexington Books in 2010. It sheds light on regional, national, and individual-level factors that have led to major developments for same-sex relationship equality in Latin America and explores institutional, political, and social barriers for same-sex couples in the region. The first section of the book deals with general aspects of same-sex rights and policies in the Americas; including public opinion regarding same-sex marriage, diffusion of policy innovations for same-sex couples, judicialization of LGBT rights, and the role of the left in support of same-sex rights in Latin America. The second section examines country-cases regarding same-sex policies in Latin America and includes separate chapters on Central America, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay. Overall, this research is innovative and unique because it covers the understudied policies of same-sex relationships in Latin America, despite its recent major developments, and includes both regional and national level analyses to explain such developments.

This book is a follow-up volume to Same-Sex Marriage in the Americas: Policy Innovation for Same-Sex Relationships published by Lexington Books in 2010. It sheds light on regional, national, and individual-level factors that have led to major developments for same-sex relationship equality in Latin America and explores institutional, political, and social barriers for same-sex couples in the region. The first section of the book deals with general aspects of same-sex rights and policies in the Americas; including public opinion regarding same-sex marriage, diffusion of policy innovations for same-sex couples, judicialization of LGBT rights, and the role of the left in support of same-sex rights in Latin America. The second section examines country-cases regarding same-sex policies in Latin America and includes separate chapters on Central America, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay. Overall, this research is innovative and unique because it covers the understudied policies of same-sex relationships in Latin America, despite its recent major developments, and includes both regional and national level analyses to explain such developments.

This book examines the proliferation of policy making concerning the recognition and protection of same-sex relationships in the countries of North and South America, adding to the knowledge of developments in the United States and Canada, but, mostly notable, exploring more recent developments in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. While much work has been done on developments in Europe and upper North America, this book attempts to broaden the understanding of relationship equality policy proliferation around the world and to add new insights regarding the policies of sexuality in different national contexts. The book discusses the several factors that have constrained and facilitated policymaking in this area including legal systems, public opinion, political culture, and, more particularly, the role of religion as a key obstacle in the recognition of rights for same-sex couples. The chapters also explore the role of institutional mechanisms, political parties, NGOs, IGOs, and international norms as significant factors for policy adoption This book explores policy innovation for same-sex couples throughout the Americas and includes same-sex marriage legislation, civil unions, and other new developments for same-sex couples throughout the Americas at both national and sub-national levels. This scholarship is innovative because though much has been written regarding developments in North America, there is very little work dealing with recent developments in the rest of the Americas.

This book examines the proliferation of policy making concerning the recognition and protection of same-sex relationships in the countries of North and South America, adding to the knowledge of developments in the United States and Canada, but, mostly notable, exploring more recent developments in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. While much work has been done on developments in Europe and upper North America, this book attempts to broaden the understanding of relationship equality policy proliferation around the world and to add new insights regarding the policies of sexuality in different national contexts. The book discusses the several factors that have constrained and facilitated policymaking in this area including legal systems, public opinion, political culture, and, more particularly, the role of religion as a key obstacle in the recognition of rights for same-sex couples. The chapters also explore the role of institutional mechanisms, political parties, NGOs, IGOs, and international norms as significant factors for policy adoption This book explores policy innovation for same-sex couples throughout the Americas and includes same-sex marriage legislation, civil unions, and other new developments for same-sex couples throughout the Americas at both national and sub-national levels. This scholarship is innovative because though much has been written regarding developments in North America, there is very little work dealing with recent developments in the rest of the Americas.