Alternative strategies to increase participation and support for women political actors in Central Asia: a qualitative analysis

Underrepresentation of women in Central Asian politics and the factors that hinder their participation are issues that, until more recent years, drew limited scholarly attention. Hence, this study, through qualitative in-depth interviews with twenty politically active women across Central Asia, aims to inquire into alternative strategies Central Asian women believe could support increased participation for women political actors in the region. Emerging from our data, we find the following alternative strategies: (i) moving beyond quotas to focus on broad mindset change, (ii) embracing and funding homegrown organizations, (iii) mandating application and implementation of adopted public policy and reforms, and (iv) going beyond politics to embrace a multi-faceted approach to supporting women’s participation. By highlighting and aggregating the diverse voices of Central Asian women political actors, this study provides unique strategies that deserve serious consideration by states, policy makers, women organisers and international donors when exploring strategies to improve political participation and rectify the underrepresentation of women in Central Asia.