In person icon Intersectionality and Democratic Governance in the EU and its Member States: Norms, Values and Actors

Abstract

This panel explores the role of intersectionality in shaping EU democratic governance, equality policies, and civil society mobilization. At a time when democracy and feminist politics face growing challenges, intersectionality is both a guiding principle and a contested practice within EU institutions and activist networks. The panel examines how different actors, such as policymakers, professionals and advocates, engage with intersectionality in response to the rise of the anti-gender movement, democratic backsliding and evolving equality and climate policies in the European Union and its Member States. The panel will highlight the tensions in institutionalizing intersectionality, addressing how it is mobilized, resisted, and negotiated across different governance arenas. It also explores potential avenues for advocates and political actors to mainstream intersectionality in EU policymaking. By analyzing the norms and values of EU political actors in equality politics and policy, this panel contributes to broader debates on democracy, inclusion, and rights-based policymaking in contemporary Europe.

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