Unintended restrictions: women’s rights INGOs and women’s civil society restrictions

How does the presence of women’s INGOs relate to restrictions on women’s civil society? Although women’s INGOs may help protect against civil society restrictions in most situations, we contend that the presence of women’s INGOs within a country may lead to increased restrictions on women’s civil so...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Kiyani, Ghashia (Author) ; Murdie, Amanda 1980- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2020
In: Human rights review
Year: 2020, Volume: 21, Issue: 4, Pages: 349-372
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:How does the presence of women’s INGOs relate to restrictions on women’s civil society? Although women’s INGOs may help protect against civil society restrictions in most situations, we contend that the presence of women’s INGOs within a country may lead to increased restrictions on women’s civil society when countries are extremely economically or politically vulnerable. At these times, women’s INGOs are more likely to be seen as an outside instigator, possibly leading to more political or economic change. In an effort to retain power, leaders may use women’s INGOs as scapegoats; attention to them and restrictions on women’s civil society more generally may be a tactic taken by a leader that is politically or economically vulnerable. We test our hypotheses in a cross-national sample of non-OECD countries from 1975 to 2013, using new data on civil society restrictions and the involvement of women’s INGOs. We find evidence in support of our central argument: economic and political vulnerability may condition the relationship between women’s INGOs and future restrictions on women’s civil society.
ISSN:1874-6306
DOI:10.1007/s12142-020-00597-8