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Female Candidates And The Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections

Author

Listed:
  • Md. Mostafizur Rahman Khan
  • Fardaus Ara

Abstract

The number of female MPs elected by direct vote in Bangladesh's Parliament is abysmally low due to the low level of female candidates in the parliamentary elections. This study addresses the underrepresentation of female candidates in the election following the supply‐ and demand‐side model of Norris and Lovenduski. We focus on the continuing patriarchal social and political culture, dynastic politics, campaign funding, and violence as supply‐side factors and political parties and nominations, quotas/reserved seats, and rule compliance as demand‐side factors that affect the candidate nomination process in Bangladesh. The article is based on semi‐structured interviews with female and male MPs of the Bangladesh Parliament and aspirant female politicians who hold different party positions. The study argues that the patriarchal nature of politics and culture controls the supply and demand‐side factors of candidate selection and discriminates against female candidates to vie in the general constituencies. El número de mujeres parlamentarias elegidas por voto directo en el Parlamento de Bangladesh es abismalmente bajo debido al bajo nivel de candidatas en las elecciones parlamentarias. Este estudio aborda la infrarrepresentación de las candidatas en las elecciones siguiendo el modelo del lado de la oferta y la demanda de Norris y Lovenduski. Nos enfocamos en la cultura política y social patriarcal, la política dinástica, el dinero y la violencia como factores del lado de la oferta y los partidos políticos y las nominaciones, las cuotas/escaños reservados y el cumplimiento de las reglas como factores del lado de la demanda que afectan el proceso de nominación de candidatos en Bangladesh. El artículo se basa en entrevistas semiestructuradas con miembros del parlamento femenino y masculino del Parlamento de Bangladesh y aspirantes a políticas que ocupan diferentes cargos en el partido. El estudio argumenta que la naturaleza patriarcal de la política y la cultura controla los factores del lado de la oferta y la demanda en la selección de candidatos y siempre discrimina a las candidatas para competir en los distritos electorales generales. 由于议会选举中女性候选人占比较低,孟加拉国议会通过直接投票选出的女议员人数少得可怜。本研究遵循 Norris 和 Lovenduski(1995)提出的供需方模型,研究了选举中女性候选人代表性不足的问题,并聚焦于一系列影响孟加拉国候选人提名过程的供给因素和需求因素,供给因素包括父权性质的社会政治文化、王朝政治、金钱和暴力,需求因素包括政党和提名、配额/预留席位、以及规则合规性。本文对孟加拉国议会中的女性议员和男性议员、以及担任不同党派职位的、有抱负的女性政治家进行了半结构化访谈。本研究认为,政治和文化的父权性质掌控着候选人选择的供给因素和需求因素,并始终歧视女性候选人参与一般选区中的竞争。

Suggested Citation

  • Md. Mostafizur Rahman Khan & Fardaus Ara, 2023. "Female Candidates And The Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections," World Affairs, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 186(2), pages 414-441, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:woraff:v:186:y:2023:i:2:p:414-441
    DOI: 10.1177/00438200231161383
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Norris, Pippa & Lovenduski, Joni, 1993. "‘If Only More Candidates Came Forward’: Supply-Side Explanations of Candidate Selection in Britain," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(3), pages 373-408, July.
    2. Rounaq Jahan & Inge Amundsen, 2012. "The Parliament of Bangladesh: Representation and Accountability," CPD-CMI Working Paper 2, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
    3. Preece, Jessica & Stoddard, Olga, 2015. "Why women don’t run: Experimental evidence on gender differences in political competition aversion," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 296-308.
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    Cited by:

    1. Emma R. Norman, 2023. "Note From The Editor," World Affairs, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 186(2), pages 248-251, June.

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