Gender Equality and Populist Upsurge

The GEPU (Gender Equality and Populist Upsurge) research project delves into the interplay between gender equality, cultural dynamics, and electoral outcomes, focusing on the rise of populist radical right (PRR) parties in contemporary Western societies.

Drawing from the ""cultural backlash theory,"" it investigates whether the increasing gender equality, gender policies, and salience of gender issues have contributed to a cultural backlash affecting the electoral success of PRR parties.

Spain and Italy serve as the primary research contexts, examining parties like Spain's Vox and Italy's Lega and Fratelli d’Italia.The project's central aim is to explore whether the presence of women in politics significantly influences electoral outcomes, specifically the rise in the vote shares of extreme-right parties.

It seeks to establish a causal relationship between gender equality and PRR party support.

Three specific research objectives guide the study: 1) Estimate the impact of electing a female mayor on extreme-right party vote shares, using a regression discontinuity design; 2) Assess the effect of increased female representation in municipal councils and government, leveraging gender quotas; 3) Conduct an online experiment to understand the influence of gender equality information on electoral support for PRR parties.The project addresses gaps in economic and political science literature, where gender equality's role in explaining the upsurge of extreme-right parties remains underexplored.

It employs a multifaceted methodology, combining quasi-experimental econometric techniques and online experiments, with data from Italy and Spain.

The study's findings promise to shed light on the intricate relationship between gender values, political movements, and societal change, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the cultural backlash phenomenon.