Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá
University of Alicante (Spain)
[email protected] / [email protected]
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications.
63 rd Political Studies Association Annual International Conference
The Party’s Over?
25 – 27 March 2013
City Hall Cardiff
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Panel details:
Gender and politics 1: Representation Beyond Westminster: Diversity, Agency and Quotas.
Chair: Lisa Harrison.
Session 7 – Tuesday 26 March 2013.
Please do not cite without permission of the author
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
Abstract.
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá.
One of the main variables used in the study of political elites has been the analysis related to their patterns of renewal, renewal and permanency along the time. We can interpret the representative democracies as a result of gradual or total processes in the renewal of ruling class.
A low level of renewal is one of the keys to describe and explain the profile of political elites an also as an indicator of professionalization, considering factors of heritage and permanency, as well as, following to Pareto, patterns of renewal.
The paper takes into account the last methodological approaches included in those academic researches and reports that have measured and evaluated, from a gender perspective, the comparative patterns of renewal, renewal and permanence in parliamentary elites.
The differentiate renewal and renewal degree between women and men as elected officials is crucial to understand the structure of opportunities that affects the incorporation of women to parliamentary institutions. This way, the European Commission (2009) has measured how different levels of renewal and permanency account the rapidity by which the female presence in parliaments occurs.
We use a cross-time (1983/2011) case-study (regional parliament of Valencia) to describe and explain which have been the core factors that let us to identify the explicative variables in terms of renewal, renewal and permanency by a gender perspective.
The paper proves a higher level of renewal of women in comparison with men for all political parties. The results show the different impact of some factors that account this different levels of renewal as, for example, the changing leadership inside the political party or inside the parliamentary groups, changes in the electoral results with eventual transitions from government to opposition and vice versa, and institutional transformations (electoral reforms) related to the introduction of quotas based on gender .
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
SUMMARY
1. Introduction. 1.1. Purpose of Research. 1.2. Hypothesis.
2. Permanency and renewal of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Previous considerations.
3. Results. 3.1. Parliamentary renewal patterns by sexes and parliamentary groups (1983- 2011). 3.2. Explicative factors of the parliamentary renewal by sex and parliamentary groups (1983 – 2011).
4. Permanency of parliamentary elites. The cross-time valencian case.
5. Conclusions.
6. Bibliography.
7. Data annexes.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá (University of Alicante – Spain). Página 3
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
1. Introduction.
The paper is a part of a wider research which purpose consists in a longitudinal (cross-time) case study on the access of women to the regional parliament of Valencia (Spain), considering the scope of analysis from a gender perspective from the theoretical focus of paritary democracy along the period 1983 – 2011.
Purpose of research.
The paper addresses a comparative study, from gender and ideological adscription (parliamentary group), of the renewal and permanency trends of men and women as members of parliamentary elites in the valencian parliament.
Therefore, we analyse the differentiated trends that men and women show related to the renewal and permanency index. The research tries to take conclusions about how permanency benefits the professionalization degree of men and the non-equivalent impact of leadership changes in the renewal of men and women as members of parliamentary groups supporting government or being in the opposition.
According with this objective, the paper is based in the notion issued by the Fourth World Conference of Women (Action for Equality, Development and Peace on 4–15 September 1995 in Beijing, China), by which: “It It has paid much attention to the improvement of women's access to political posts. However, much less attention has been paid to the renewal of women in formal political institutions (...)” (Beijing Declaration, 4-15 September 1995).
Hypothesis.
Taking into account the previous researches and reports assessing the performance of women as office holders, we hypothesize a higher level of renewal of women than men along the time.
This proposition is coherent with the notion emitted by the parity democracy theory, by which the consolidation of male leadership in public institutions is consequence of a higher permanency of men as representatives. This circumstance conduces a higher professionalization level between male members of parliaments as opposed to women. Finally, because of this trends, the chance to be nominated as candidate is higher among men. This way, a new process for the consolidation of male leadership is started.
The main factors that have been considerate relevant in order to explain these trends, are the leadership changes inside the political party or parliamentary group, the incorporation of women to parliaments itself and the different levels of female presence as legislatives, the changes from opposition to government, and vice versa,
Thus, the changes of leadership, the level of female presence, and the transfer of power, are factors that will affect the permanency and renewal trends from a differently intensity according with gender.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá (University of Alicante – Spain). Página 4
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
2. Permanency and renewal of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Previous considerations.
One of the core variables used in the studies on political participation of women, has been given by the renewal and permanency index, being particularly considered in those researches that tries to clear up the descriptive and explicative guidelines on the comparative ways by which men and women exercise their parliamentary performance as representatives.
The data associated with renewal and permanency related to members of parliaments, let us to obtain value information on the factors that describes the differentiated exercise of their representative responsibilities from a gender perspective.
Beyond the presence of women as members of parliaments itself, it is necessary to study more detailed which are the variables that characterize the effective exercise of those faculties related to the parliamentary condition. From this perspective, we can study those: “(…) phenomena that hinder a real and effective gender balance in the exercise of political power, such as renewing higher for women than men (...)” (Verge, 2006).
Lovenduski (2005) considers that: “established institutions have the capacity to preserve traditions and cultures, prevent or slow change and protect elites” (Lovenduski, 2005). This way, and following to Paxton & Hughes (2007): “(…) incumbents are more attractive than challengers, evidenced by an extremely high rate of incumbents renomination (…)” (Paxton & Hughes, 2007).
The European Commission (2009) assessed the growing permanency of woman in parliaments as one of the vital factors in order to generate more opportunities to women in their access to the main political making decision levels. A high level of permanency and re-election of legislatives reduces, by the low renewal index in each election, the changes for women in their access to representative bodies. Therefore: “Estimates suggest that, on average, around two-thirds of members are re-elected on each occasion meaning that there are limited opportunities for new faces and, therefore, for change in their gender balance” (European Commission, 2009). For this reason, Matland (2005) exposes that “(…) incumbents and community leaders are often disproportionately male, these criteria can damage women’s opportunities” (Matland, 2005).
To ensure a continuity of women in their representative and institutional positions is a suitable way to guarantee the acquisition of more political expertise, leadership and media presence.
This way, an increasing permanency of women as representatives, is a key factor to ensure: - A gradual media projection. - Greater professionalism, knowledge and mastery of political practices associated with an effective exercise of the office. - A consolidation of networking in social and political levels, both within and outside the political party, government and parliament. - Therefore, an increase in the chance to access and exercise the political leadership is a way to perpetuate the opportunities of re-election and continuity.
The re-election of male representatives and their permanency comes from a higher media exposition as a consequence of a previous exercise of their responsibilities as office holder. Their greater public knowing and recognition of male representatives, pursues to political parties in the re-election of their in order to increase the probability of achieve a good electoral results.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá (University of Alicante – Spain). Página 5
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
These circumstances reduce the probabilities that women access to different levels of political power. Therefore, influencing an increased degree of permanence and continuity in legislative bodies is a way to strength the feedback between experience and possibilities to the re-election (European Commission, 2009).
The paper addresses the existence of different degrees of permanency and renewal depending on gender and several possible explicative factors.
Firstly, we expose the results of the comparative cross-time study (1983 – 2011) of renewal and permanency trends by gender and political parties in the regional parliament of Valencia. The renewal has been measured taking into account the statistic and methodological elaboration “dividing the number of MPs who are not from the preceding term by the total number of deputies of the legislature” (Coller, 1999).
Secondly, we measure permanency of valencian parliamentary elites computing the number of legislatures that each MP has been holding their representative office continuously and uninterrupted.
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
3. Results.
3.1. Parliamentary renewal patterns by sexes and parliamentary groups (1983-2011).
According with the results related to the whole parliamentary groups by gender, we obtain a higher level of renewal among women (0.64) than among men (0.55).
We consider seven legislatures, along which the presence of women in the valencian parliament changes as can be seen in the next box:
Periods in the female incorporation to valencian parliament (1983 – 2011). Period Female presence (%) Firs Period (Exclusion / I (1983-1987): 5.62 %. testimonial presence). II (1987 – 1991): 5.62 %. Second Period: III (1991 – 1995): 13.48 %. IV (1995 – 1999): 24.72 %. Third Period: Critical Mass V (1999-2003): 40.45 %. VI (2003 – 2007): 42.70 %. Fourth Period: parity. VII (2007 – 2011): 49, 44 %.
Total historical sequence (1983 – 25, 63 %. 2011)
Self-elaboration. Source: Archive of the Valencian Parliament.
When we go on along the temporal sequence, we test a less outstanding difference between men and women renewal index, especially beyond the IV legislature (1995 – 1999). Thus, it is possible to consider two differentiated periods, particularly from the fourth legislature, when the female renewal index was the highest of the whole longitudinal sequence.
Weight average of renewal index of parliamentary elites (regional parliament of Valencia) by sexes. M H Diferencia II 0.33 0.48 -0.15 III 0.75 0.59 0.16 IV 0.82 0.56 0.26 V 0.69 0.61 0.08 VI 0.47 0.48 0.01 VII 0.54 0.57 0.03 TOTAL 0.64 0.55 0.09
Self-elaboration. Source: Archive of the Valencian Parliament.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá (University of Alicante – Spain). Página 7
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
Taking into account these results, we can expose three explicative factors that contribute to explain the evolution of the renewal index obtained:
- The female incorporation or growing periods of female presence in the whole regional legislative body. - Leadership changes inside each political party and their parliamentary groups. - Government changes and, therefore, parliamentary majority changes.
Perhaps the general differences between men and women related to their shared levels of renewal, the behaviour of data is common for both (men and women) in the longitudinal sequence, except the IV legislature (1995 – 1999) in which the female renewal index in higher than the male index because of a evident fact: the passing, for first time, from a testimonial female presence (5.62 % [1987-1991] & 13,48 % [1991-1995]) to presence of 24,72 % of women (1995 – 1999).
From this general terms, we are going to analyse data considering the particular characteristics of that results depending on political parties, and taking into account three variables that we have already exposed above (female incorporation or growing female presence periods; leadership changes inside each political party and their parliamentary groups; and, government changes and, therefore, parliamentary majority changes).
The differences between the male and female renewal index, sorted from highest to lowest, by political parties, are as follows:
- PSPV: 0.23. - PPCV: 0.01. - EUPV: 0.17.
Renwal index of parliamentary elites in the Valencian Parliament by political parties, gender and legislatures. Legislature PSPV PPCV EUPV M H M H M H II (87 – 91) 0.33 0.25 0.00 0.55 - 0.83 III (91 – 95) 0.75 0.28 0.00 0.76 Incorporation 0.20 IV (95 – 99) 0.60 0.35 0.93 0.64 0.75 0.17 V (99 – 03) 0.87 0.81 0.54 0.34 0.50 0.67 VI (03 – 07) 0.55 0.50 0.38 0.47 0.00 0.40 VII (07 – 11) 0.41 0.36 0.45 0.59 1.00 1.00 Weighted average 0.63 0.46 0.60 0.59 0.86 0.69
Self-elaboration. Source: Archive of the Valencian Parliament.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá (University of Alicante – Spain). Página 8
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
PSPV (Valencian Socialist Party of Valencian Party).
The gap between the male and female renewal index is the highest in comparison with the rest of political parties. For the whole temporal sequence, that index is 0.63 for female representatives and 0.43 for male representatives.
First of all, perhaps that gap, the tendency of data along the time is correlative for men and women and, only in the IV Legislature (1995-1999), when the male renewal grown up, the female renewal index decreases, which is a clear statistical exception.
Data shows how one of the main variables that explains the punctual highest renewal levels, comes given by the incorporation of women and increasing female presence. This way, from 7.14 % of female presence (1991-1995) to 20.00 % in the period 1995-1999, the renewal index was 0.75 for women, in contrast with the 0.28 of men.
From that moment, in the Fifth Legislature (1999-2003) it was registered the highest renewal index in the whole longitudinal sequence, for both men and women. The explicative variables are, in this case:
1. The growing level of women, from 28.13 % in 1995-1999, to 42.86 % in 1999-2003, which means, in absolute terms, six more female legislatives, in coincidence with the adoption of voluntary electoral quotas based on gender by the valencian socialist party (PSPV). 2. The socialist leadership change, from Joan Lerma, President of the Valencian Government (1982-1995), to Antonio Asunción, which will imply a renewal of the parliamentary group, particularly among those male legislatives that were office holders under the Lerma’s leadership. 3. This leadership change will coincides with the successive electoral declines experimented by the Valencian Socialist Party (PSPV) and after its electoral defeat in the Fourth Legislature (1995-1999).
Summing up, the three variables that contribute to explain the changes of renewal index in the socialist parliamentary group are:
- The loss of the parliamentary majority and, as a consequence, of the government; - The leadership change derived from the first circumstance; - The implementation of quotas based on gender.
In a context of continually electoral declines, and considering a new change of leadership in the VI Legislature (from Antonio Asunción to Joan I. Pla), it is tested a consolidation of female presence in the Valencian Socialist Party.
According with the factors exposed above, the renewal index of women is higher than men, being the most important variable to explain the renewal of women their incorporation and increasing presence and, on the other hand, being relevant to explain the renewal index of men the leadership changes and electoral results related, specifically, to the loss of government.
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá (University of Alicante – Spain). Página 9
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
EUPV (United Lef of Valencian Country).
In the case of EUPV, the two main factors that let us to explain the statistical changes related to the renewal index of their legislatives, comes from:
1. The opportunity factor: their electoral results obtained, and the effective access to the parliamentary body by the female candidates; and, 2. The changes of leadership inside the organization and, as a consequence, inside the parliamentary group itself.
First of all, we must consider the fact by which the female renewal index it is possible to measure only from the IV Legislature (1995-1999), period in which happens the incorporation of women in their successive parliamentary groups. It is necessary to consider that the presence in the parliamentary groups of EUPV is the later in comparison with the two other political parties (PSPV and PPCV).
The renewal index in EUPV has become given by its electoral results and, particularly, depending on the level of female presence. Thus, the second highest female level of renewal will be, behind the complete renewal (renewal index: 1.00, in the VII Legislature), in the IV Legislature, in coincidence with the incorporation of three new women and the continuity of one of them with respect to the previous legislature.
The renewal index will be 0.00 in the VI Legislature (2003 – 2007), when does not enter any new women, but in which happens the continuity of the unique female legislative, how proceeds from the IV Legislature (1995 – 1999). It will be in the VII Legislature (the last in the temporal sequence: 2007-2011), when the renewal index reached le level of 1.00, which means the absolute renewal of the parliamentary group with respect to the previous legislature, with the incorporation of four women and three men (57.14 % of women).
In this last situation (VII Legislature), it converge the following explicative factors:
1. A good electoral result gives the chance to access to parliamentary body to more women, concurring, this way, a clear opportunity factor, by which a good electoral result lets to women an access to public institutions perhaps their worst location in the electoral candidatures. 2. The leadership change from Joan Ribó (V and VI Legislatures) to Gloria Marcos (VII Legislature), head of electoral list, candidate to the regional government and leadership of EUPV.
Among male legislatives, the renewal index has depended on:
- The almost whole renovation of parliamentary group between the I and the II Legislature (0.87). - The leadership change happened when Joan Ribó substitutes to Albert Taberner. - Finally, the absolute renewal, with a renewal index of 1.00, when converge two factors: a very good electoral results and a leadership change.
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
In any case, for the whole historical sequence, the renewal index is higher for women than for men, with a difference of 0.17 percentage points.
Therefore, we can conclude that the renewal index among female legislatives is higher because of the incorporation of women to the parliamentary activity in first place, and then, as a consequence of the electoral results that comes with the female incorporation to public institutions in the IV Legislature (1995 – 1999) and the good electoral results obtained by the political organization in the VII Legislature (2007 – 2011).
This way, it must be remarked that the opportunity factor is very relevant when we try to explain the renewal index among female legislatives of EUPV. Nevertheless, it has been much important the leadership changes that occur, mainly, in the VII Legislature, when the political organization was leaded by a woman (Gloria Marcos).
PPCV (Popular Party).
The successive parliamentary groups of PPCV show the lowest difference between the renewal index of men and women. This is because of the high renewal index of both, women and men, chiefly taking into account the high index in the II, III and IV Legislatures in which, until the electoral victory of PPCV in the IV Legislature, their legislatives were in constant restructuring processes and leadership changes.
We refer, this way, the late consolidation of PPCV until this political organization absorbs electorally the political parties of right-centre (CDS) and regionalist conservative (UV) in the V Legislature (1999-2003), and its previous transformation from AP to PPCV.
From that moment, and until the VII Legislature, the renewal index will be the lowest of the whole historical sequence, coinciding in a consecutive way, in the V and VI Legislatures. Nevertheless, in the VI Legislature will happen a relatively higher renewal index because of the leadership change from Eduardo Zaplana to Francisco Camps.
Diachronically, the changes in the female renewal index in the PPCV organization, will be explained by the female incorporation in the IV Legislature, coinciding with the leadership change from Pedro Agramunt to Eduardo Zaplana, and the historical electoral increase in that Legislature.
Finally, in the VII Legislature we will test a significant increase on the renewal index of both men and women, in comparison with the previous legislature. This fact is explained by the renewal that happens when Francisco Camps consolidates his leadership over Eduardo Zaplana through the renewal of a huge number of legislatives.
In the PPCV’s case, the main factors that contribute to explain the high renewal index of women come given by the last incorporation of women to the parliamentary work, as well as the fact that this incorporation happens in a moment of electoral opportunity characterized by absolute electoral majorities in which are not so important the leadership changes that, on the contrary, are very relevant to explain the renewal index of male legislatives in previous legislatures (II, III and IV).
Bernabé Aldeguer Cerdá (University of Alicante – Spain). Página 11
Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
3.2. Explicative factors of the parliamentary renewal by sex and parliamentary groups (1983 – 2011).
According with data exposed, we prove the hypothesis by which the renewal index is conditioned by the two following factors:
- Leadership changes inside the political organization, and, more specifically, inside the parliamentary group and, in its case, within the regional government.
- Opportunity factors related to the best electoral results obtained, which refers the access of women to public institutions perhaps their worst ordinal location inside the electoral candidatures.
Nevertheless, the impact of these factors varies from each parliamentary group to other and, in a same parliamentary groups, this variations comes between sexes. This way, the renewal index is mostly explained by the leadership changes among male legislatives, while the opportunity factor is the factor that more contributes to explain renewal index for female legislatives.
In PSPV and EUPV political organizations, the common factors come from the incorporation of women under the implementation of electoral quotas based on gender introduced by these political organizations. In the EUPV’s case, more concretely, the electoral results are a very important factor. Likewise, the leadership changes are relevant, but not so much among women as among men.
In the PPCV’s case, it should be noted the importance, not only the opportunity factor, that lets women to access to the regional parliament according with the electoral results, but also because of the overcoming critical mass of female presence (above 30,00 %). With this opportunity factor, the fact that the renewal index was the lowest between men and women in comparison with the rest of parliamentary groups is due to a clear reason: the high renewal level of male legislatives.
Therefore, it could be conclude, as principal contributions of this epigraph, that the renewal index of political elites comes from the main following factors:
- The organizational fragmentation of political parties and, therefore, the stability in common ideological spectrums, and correlative processes of convergence and re- structuration. - Electoral results and opportunity to women in the access to public institutions. - The consolidation and variability in leadership trends within party organizations and, as a consequence, in the institutional and parliamentary ambit. - As a result of the two last factors, we must consider the fact that the political party be occupying government or opposition positions.
It results evident, for the whole of parliamentary groups along the historical sequence, the higher renewal index of women in contrast with male renewal level. This way, we find verified the hypothesis according with is more difficult to achieve female leaderships and, therefore, higher levels of permanency, professionalization and re-election, which contributes to continue strengthening the male leadership and political activity.
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
4. Permanency of parliamentary elites. The cross-time valencian case.
The obtained results show the way in which, with no exception, the male permanency is higher. As we go on the longitudinal sequence posting the number of correlative legislatures that any MP occupies his/her chair, we can test an increasingly difference between sexes.
This way, when we consider a higher number of continuous and successive legislatures, and, consequently, high permanency, the difference between women and men is also increasing, testing a less permanency related to women. And, therefore, only one female representative has been MP along six legislatures in a consecutive and uninterrupted way.
The percentage of female legislatives that have been MP only for a one legislature is exceeds to men in EUPV and PSPV cases [EUPV (77,78 % vs. 61.11 %), PSPV (52.17 % vs. 47.83 %)], and, on the contrary, happens in PPCV, in which the renewal is higher among male legislatives than among women (55.73 % men vs. 51.85 % women). This last case is because the equivalence between the renewals level between men and women in PPCV’s parliamentary groups, as we have proved above.
In the parliamentary groups of PSPV, the female permanency is lower than the male’s one. Thus, between the one and three legislatures of continuous legislatures as MP, the female permanency is higher for women in that number of legislatures. Nevertheless, beyond the four continuous legislatures, the male permanency is higher for male legislatives.
In a same way, the successive parliamentary groups of EUPV show a tendency by which women are MP for a only one legislature in a percentage of 77.78, while for three continuous legislatures the permanency is in that case of 22.22 % for women.
Finally, related to PPCV’s parliamentary groups, according with the high rate of male renewal, the permanency of one legislature is higher for male MP’s (55.73 %), than for women (51.85 %). And, in the same tendency happens, although with a higher percentage difference (10.11 percentage points) between women and men in the number of two permanency legislatures (31.48 and 21.37 %, respectively). However, the permanency of male MPs is higher for male in the three (9.26 % for women vs. 16.79 % for men) and five legislatures (only with male records of 1.53 %).
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
5. Conclusions.
According with the results obtained, we can consider our hypothesis verified. Nevertheless, we must introduce some explicative factors that let us to analyse different levels of renewal and permanency by sexes. This way, any future study on this topic, should take into account how the differentiate renewal levels by sexes are affected by:
• Leadership changes. • Female and male leadership. • Electoral results and changes of governments.
From a normative and prescriptive focus, it will be necessary to introduce limitations in duration mandates for incumbents, in order to:
- Decrease the number of legislatures that office holders are permitted to be in their institutional positions, and facilitating, this way, the renewal levels, making easier to women the access to legislative bodies. - Generate more opportunities to those women that could cover many benches as a consequence of each more renovation of legislatures. - Reduce the professionalization degree of political activity, which is a trend that harms to women more than to men by the higher continuity and permanency in public office (“As candidates who have already been successful and who are known to the electorate, incumbents are also liable to be favoured by the party machinery come election time” [European Commission, 2009]).
In any case, it is necessary to continue with the application of parity quotas along the time, until a suitable and stable level of parity be achieved in legislative bodies. This is particularly advisable considering studies and reports issued by European Commission that highlight an important fact; which is an important circumstance. Thus, each electoral process implies a retention index of 66 % that affects to incumbent members of parliaments. This way, we observe a very low renewal level among parliamentary elites, and this is an important obstacle to the female access to representative institutions. Considering this previous considerations, even in the best case, considering this renewal index (37 %), it will be necessary five electoral processes (between 20 and 25 years) to reach the female level of 45 %, as we can see at the follow figure from Women in European politics – time for action (European Commission, 2009). Because of this considerations: “(…) it seems clear that the rate at which women can be integrated into of political decision-making will remain slow unless the incumbency problem is addressed” (European Commission, 2009).
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
European Commission. (2009): Women in European politics – time for action. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
6. Bibliography.
1) Coller, X. 1999. “Circulación y conflicto en la elite política: el caso valenciano”, Revista Valenciana de Estudios Autonómicos , nº 29, pp. 193-221. 2) European Commission. 2009. Women in European politics – time for action . Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. 3) European Commission.1999. Handbook on equal treatment for women and men in the European Union . Luxemburgo: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. 4) Lovenduski, J. & Pippa Norris (eds.) 1996. Women in Politics . Oxford: Oxford University Press. 5) Lovenduski, J. 2003. “Westminster Women: The Politics of Presence”, Political Studies, vol. 51, nº 1, pp. 84-102. 6) Lovenduski, J. 2005. ‘Party government and women’s representation debates: the UK’, in Lovenduski, J. et al (eds) State Feminism and Political Representation , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 216-238. 7) Lovenduski, J. 2005. Feminizing politics . Cambridge: Polity Press. 8) Lovenduski, J. 2005. Feminizing Politics. Polity Press. 9) Lovenduski, J. 2010. “The dynamics of Gender and Party”, en Krook, M. L. & Childs, S. Women, Gender, and politics. A reader . Oxford University Press, Oxford. 10) Lovenduski, J., Baudino, C., Guadagnini, M., Meier, P., & Sainsbury, D. 2005. “Conclusions: State feminism and political representation”, en Lovenduski, J. (ed) 2005. State Feminism and Political Representation . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 11) Matland, R. E. 1993. “Institutional Variables Affecting Female Representation in National Legislatures: The Case of Norway”, Journal of Politics , 55(3), pp. 737-55. 12) Matland, R. E. 2002. “Estrategias para ampliar la participación femenina en el Parlamento. El proceso de selección de candidatos legislativos y los sistemas electorales”, en Mujeres en el parlamento: más allá de los números . Stockholm: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, pp. 111-134. 13) Pastor Yuste, R. 2011. Género, élites políticas y representación parlamentaria en España . Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia. 14) Paxton, P. & Hughes, M. 2007. Women, Politics and Power. A Global Perspective . Pine Forge Press. 15) Phillips, A. 1995. The Politics of Presence . Oxford: Clarendon. 16) Phillips, A. 1996. Género y teoría democrática . México: UNAM / Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales y Programa Universitario de Estudios de Género. 17) Phillips, A. 1998. “Democracy and Representation: Or, Why Should it Matter Who our Representatives Are? En Phillips A. (ed), Feminism and Politics . Oxford: Oxford University Press. 18) Phillips, A. 1998. Feminism & Politics . Oxford Readings in Feminism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 19) Randall, V. 1998. “Gender and power: Women engage the state”, en Randall, V. & Waylen, G. (eds) (1998). Gender, Politics and the State . Routledge, London & New York. 20) Sevilla Merino, J. 1997. "La presencia de las mujeres en los Parlamentos: las Cortes Valencianas", en Corts: Anuario de Derecho Parlamentario , núm. 4, pp. 369-411. 21) Shvedova, N. 2005. “Obstacles to Women’s Participation in Parliament”, en Ballington, J. & Karam, A (ed) Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers. Revised Edition . Stockholm: International IDEA, Publications office. 22) Squires, J. 2007. The New Politics of gender equality . Palgrave, Macmillan. 23) Threfall M., Cousings, C. & Valiente, C. 2005. Gendering Spanish Democracy . Londres: Routledge.
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24) Verge, T. 2006. “Mujeres y partidos políticos en España: las estrategias de los partidos políticos y su impacto institucional, 1978-2004”, Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas , núm. 115, pp. 165-196. 25) Verge, T. 2009. Dones a les institutions polítiques catalanes: el llarg camí cap a la igualtat (1977 – 2008 ). Barcelona. ICPS – UAB. 26) Verge, T. 2011. “Cuotas de género y reclutamiento político. Análisis del Parlament de Catalunya, 1980-2010”, Revista Española de Ciencia Política , 26, pp. 87–104. 27) Young, I. 2010. “Theorizing Feminist Strategy and Party Responsiveness”, en Krook, M. L. & Childs, S. Women, Gender, and politics. A reader . Oxford University Press, Oxford
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
7. Data annexes. Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites – Valencian Parliament (1983 – 2011).
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
Permanency index by sexes and parliamentary groups – political parties (N & %). PSPV PPCV EUPV UV CDS TOTAL M H M H M H M H M H M H N % N % N % N % N % N % N % N % N % N % N % N % 1 Legislature 24 52.17 55 47.83 28 51.85 73 55.73 7 77.78 11 61.11 - 0,00 9 69.22 - 0,00 11 100.00 59 53.64 159 55.21
2 Legislatures 12 26.09 24 20.87 17 31.48 28 21.37 - --- 2 11.11 - 0,00 2 15.39 - - - - 29 26.36 56 19.44
3 Legislatures 9 19.57 23 20.00 5 9.26 22 16.79 2 22.22 4 22.22 1 100.00 2 15.39 - - - - 17 15.45 51 17.71
4 Legislatures - 0.00 10 8.69 3 5.56 5 3.82 ------3 2.73 15 5.21
5 Legislatures 1 2.17 2 1.74 - --- 2 1.53 - --- 1 5.56 ------1 0.91 5 1.74
6 Legislatures - 0.00 1 0.87 ------0 0.00 1 0.34
7 Legislatures ------1 1.85 1 0.76 ------1 0.91 1 0.34
Self-elaboration. Source: Archive of the Valencian Parliament.
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
Permanency of parliamentary elites (Valencian Parliament). Female MPs (1983-2011). I II III IV V VI VII 3 (100) 1 (33,33)
PSPV 1 (33,33) 1 (100) 1 (100) 6 (100) 2 (33,33) 6 (100) 1 (16,67) 13 (100) 1 (7,69) 8 (61,54) 11 (100) 8 (72,73) 11 (100) PP 3 (100) 1 (33,33) 13 (100) 5 (38,46) 3 (23,08) 3 (23,08) 14 (100) 6 (42,86) 2 (14,29) 9 (100) 5 (55,56) 9 (100) - EUPV - 1 (100) 1 (100) 3 (100) 1 (33,33) 1 (100) - 5 (100)
Self-elaboration. Source: Archive of the Valencian Parliament.
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
Permanency of parliamentary elites (Valencian Parliament). Male MPs (1983-2011). I II III IV V VI VII 50 (100) 12 (24,00) 11 (22,00) 8 (16,00) 2 (4,00) 11 (100) 3 (27.27) PSPV 5 (45.45) 11 (100) 2 (18.18) 2 (18.18) 10 (100) 17 (100) 1 (5.88) 7 (41.18) 10 (100) 7 (70.00) 8 (100) 32 (100) 7 (21.88) 2 (6.25) 1 (3.13) 12 (100) 1 (8.33) 3 (25.00) 22 (100) 3 (13.64) 7 (31.82) PP 1 (4.55) 1 (4.55) 29 (100) 7 (24.14) 5 (17.24) 4 (13.79) 13 (100) 2 (15.38) 4 (30.77) 15 (100) 6 (40.00) 19 (100) 6 (100) 1 (16.67) 5 (100) 3 (60.00) 1 (100) 1 (100) EUPV 1 (100) 1 (100) 2 (100) 2 (100) 2 (100) 3 (100)
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
Weight average of renewal index of parliamentary elites (regional parliament of Valencia) by sexes and parliamentary groups (political parties). Legislatura PSPV PPCV EUPV M H M H M H II 0.33 * 1 = 0.33 0.25 * 11 = 2.75 0.00 * 0 = 0.00 0.55 * 12 = 6.60 --- 0.83 * 5 = 4.15 III 0.75 * 6 = 4.5 0.28 * 11 = 3.08 0.00 * 0 = 0.00 0.76 * 22 = 16.72 --- 0.20 * 1 = 0.20 IV 0.60 * 6 = 3.6 0.35 * 10 = 3.50 0.93 * 13 = 12.09 0.64 * 29 = 18.56 0.75 * 3 = 2.25 0.17 * 1 = 0.17 V 0.87 * 13 = 11.31 0.81 * 17 = 13.77 0.54 * 14 = 7.56 0.34 * 13 = 4.42 0.50 * 1 = 0.50 0.67 * 2 = 1.34 VI 0.55 * 11 = 6.05 0.50 * 10 = 5.00 0.38 * 9 = 3.42 0.47 * 15 = 7.05 0.00 * 0 = 0 0.40 * 2 = 0.80 VII 0.41 * 11 = 4.51 0.36 * 8 = 2.88 0.45 * 9 = 4.05 0.59 * 19 = 11.21 1.00 * 5 = 5.00 1.00 * 3 = 3.00 ∑ Tasa * renovaciones 30.30 30.98 27.12 64.56 7.75 9.66 ∑ renewals 48 67 45 110 9 14 Weight Average 0.63 0.46 0.60 0.59 0.86 0.69
Self-elaboration. Source: Archive of the Valencian Parliament.
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Renewal and permanency of parliamentary elites from a gender perspective. Methodological trends of measure and applications. 63rd Political Studes Association Annual International Conference.
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