CSLS Speaker Series – “Why Might Authoritarian Populists Care about Women’s Empowerment?”

Right-wing populist political parties have historically faced significant disadvantages with women voters and continue to be associated with “angry men” and gender-regressive political platforms. This talk focuses on a possible counterpoint. Officially the world’s largest electoral democracy, since 2014, India has experienced rising authoritarianism under the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government of Narendra Modi. These political transformations have accompanied a surprising focus on women’s “empowerment,” with BJP policy makers and activists focusing on women’s safety in public spaces. Why might authoritarian populists care about women’s empowerment? 

Tracing policy makers’ shift away from domestic violence law towards a focus on sexual harassment, Roychowdhury argues that women’s “empowerment” can be mobilized for diverse ends. In the case of India, empowerment initiatives simultaneously woo women voters while upholding Hindu domination and increasing the discretionary power of law enforcement personnel. Through the Indian case, this talk theorizes how and why democratic authoritarianism may be characterized by a movement away from discourses and practices of rights towards a focus on security and protection.

 

 

If you require an accommodation for effective  communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact csls@law.berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible.