Gender (in) equality in Political Participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gender (in) equality in Political Participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

BIČO, Azra
OPČIN, Nerkez

The focus of this paper is on the distribution of gender and their political participation on a cantonal level of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Three leading parties in Canton Sarajevo are going to be analyzed: the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Union for a Better Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SBBBIH). The analysis in this study will first start with a comparison of the number of candidates to be elected at the municipal and the cantonal level and their genders. Furthermore, by using descriptive analysis we aim to show gender inequality in three leading parties, according to the results of the local elections held in 2012. Also, by using descriptive analysis we will compare the number of candidates who were nominated and the number of candidates who were elected according to genders, to find the possible cause. Results show that the problem lies in the overall low political participation of females on the political scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, we will analyze and discuss economic and social - political reasons for such low political participation of females. Several suggestions are going to be made through a positive example of a rather small political party in B&H, NašaStranka. Keywords:Gender Inequality, Political Participation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Descriptive Analysis, Political Parties, Canton Sarajevo

Article
PeerReviewed

ISSN 2303-4564

International Burch University

2014-04-24

2476