Göker, Zeynep Gülru and Çelik, A. Betül (2026) Between coping, co-optation, and resistance: strategies of (en)countering anti-gender challenges in local governance in the context of democratic backsliding. Social Politics, 33 (1). pp. 1-25. ISSN 1072-4745 (Print) 1468-2893 (Online)
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaf055
Abstract
The article explores the strategies employed by gender equality proponents in local governance in Turkey, who confront numerous obstacles to their work in a context of anti-gender politics and democratic backsliding. An analysis of interviews with gender experts, their key allies, and municipal and city council members in fourteen municipalities in seven cities reveals that gender experts flexibly use operational, knowledge, and engagement strategies to advance gender equality. While some strategies may be perceived as co-optation, contextually they also help actors overcome immediate challenges when developing long-term mechanisms to resist the adverse effects of anti-gender politics. The political party stance has considerable influence on gender policies; however, the article also demonstrates diversity in the strategies of gender experts situated in disparate municipalities governed by the same political party. Availability of institutional support, personal expertise, and allies contributes to shifting from co-optation to resistance.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Anti-gender politics; democratic backsliding; gender experts; local governments; strategies; Turkey |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ1101-2030.7 Women. Feminism J Political Science > JF Political institutions and public administration (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Academic programs > Gender Studies Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Academic programs > Political Science Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Gender and Women's Studies Research and Application Center |
| Depositing User: | Zeynep Gülru Göker |
| Date Deposited: | 06 May 2026 14:56 |
| Last Modified: | 06 May 2026 14:56 |
| URI: | https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/id/eprint/54012 |
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Between coping, co-optation, and resistance: strategies of (en)countering anti-gender challenges in local governance in the context of democratic backsliding. (deposited 29 Sep 2025 14:38)
- Between coping, co-optation, and resistance: strategies of (en)countering anti-gender challenges in local governance in the context of democratic backsliding. (deposited 06 May 2026 14:56) [Currently Displayed]
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