European Politics and Individual Legislators: Empirical Insights

Abstract

This panel investigates the role of individual legislators in shaping European politics, focusing on gender, representation, and behavioural dynamics within the European Parliament. Contributions examine institutional barriers to women’s candidacy, gendered patterns in leadership positions, and the contested reform of maternity provisions. They also explore cultural factors influencing policy engagement and the career pathways that lead to leadership roles. Drawing on diverse methods - from large-scale datasets and longitudinal analyses to experimental designs and interviews - the panel provides new insights into how personal characteristics, institutional norms, and cultural perceptions interact to shape legislative behaviour and representation. These findings illuminate the micro-level dynamics that underpin broader processes of integration and democratic governance in the EU.

Title	Details
Institutional Barriers and Ideological Gatekeepers: How Electoral Rules and Party Ideology Shape Women’s Representation in European Parliament Elections	View Paper Details
“Where are the Women?” Gender and Inter-Parliamentary Delegation Chairs in the European Parliament	View Paper Details
When Culture Speaks: Accent Variation and Policy Engagement in the European Parliament	View Paper Details
Between Presence and Parenthood: Reforming Maternity Provisions in the European Parliament	View Paper Details
Gender, Career Pathways, and Leadership Access in the European Parliament	View Paper Details