Gender, Ethnicity, and Intersectionality in Cabinets
Asia and Europe in Comparative Perspective

Examines the representation of women and ethnic minorities in government cabinets, using original data spanning Asia and Europe (1960-2015).

Amy H. Liu (Author), Roman Hlatky (Author), Keith Padraic Chew (Author), Eoin L. Power (Author), Sam Selsky (Author), Betty Compton (Author), Meiying Xu (Author)

9781009570435, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 January 2025

102 pages
23 x 15.1 x 0.5 cm, 0.16 kg

What explains patterns of representation – of women and ethnic minorities – in government cabinets? The authors argue governments diversify their cabinets when (1) a minority group – and it need not be ethnic – is sizable and can mobilize (political competition); and/or (2) the general population believes in and expects the inclusion of minorities (popular norms). The authors test their argument using original cabinet data from Asia and Europe (N=93) 1960-2015 and a most-similar design of four case studies. They identify the gender and ethnicity of 91,000 country-year-minister observations – with consideration of the rank of their ministerial portfolio. They find evidence that in countries where there is political competition and/or popular norms, cabinets have fewer double-hegemons. However, this does not necessarily suggest minorities are holding portfolios of substantive prestige. This project offers a way to study intersectionality in democratic representation and political institutions.

1. Introduction
2. A Theory on Minorities in Cabinets
3. Minorities and Cabinet Compositions
4. Minorities and Portfolio Prestige
5. Minorities in Cabinets in Four Cases
6. Democracy and Cabinet Composition
7. Discussion: What Next?.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP]