A gendered leadership? Organizational changes and external challenges for the von der Leyen Commission

Abstract

The von der Leyen Commission is exceptional in many ways. Especially in relation to gender equality, we can observe a number of internal, organizational changes. This includes not only the first ever woman as President of the European Commission, but also the first ever gender parity College of Commissioners, the first Commissioner for Equality, the establishment of an equality Task-force. Simultaneously, this Commission had to face unprecedented geopolitical challenges from day 1 – starting with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion into Ukraine, rising autocratic powers in the Member States. The question arises: What are the effects of these changes and challenges? How does the Commission President exercise leadership? What kind of leadership does President von der Leyen exercise? Is this leadership gendered? What are the consequences of von del Leyen’s leadership in terms of gender and LGBTI politics and policy? To what extent is the Union of Equality a ‘caring’ union? Papers in this panel examine the gendered role and impact of the first woman Commission President and her gender-equal College on the political and organizational processes as well as the challenges that the von der Leyen Commission has faced during the mandate.

Title	Details
“Through the Side Door”: Ursula von der Leyen’s Unconventional Path to Power	View Paper Details
“Von der Leyen’s Gender-balanced Team: A New Way of Operating in the College of Commissioners?	View Paper Details
Gendering the Institutional Landscape: The von der Leyen Commission’s Relations to the European Parliament and Council	View Paper Details
The Political Leadership of Ursula von der Leyen: European Agenda-Setting and Media Evaluations in Times of Crisis	View Paper Details
Gendering the Covid-19 pandemic: a caring Union?	View Paper Details