Women’s Political Representation In Norway And Namibia: Stark Differences, Stark Similarities

Throughout the world, women are underrepresented in national parliaments. Scholars have determined that the primary causes of this gender gap are: electoral systems, gender quotas, and political parties. Yet their determination has been based on single-nation studies or global comparative studies, which neglects an important area of research –- namely, the comparative study. In this paper, I address that gap with a comparative study of Norway and Namibia, where women have nearly reached equal representation in the parliaments that represent them. Despite the vast differences between these two countries, there are commonalities between them that can help us to better understand why women are represented at the level they are in these countries. Specifically, what Norway and Namibia share are the party list electoral system, voluntary party quotas, and political parties that have women in leadership positions. The research confirms past findings and further emphasizes the importance of these elements for furthering female representation.