How can parliamentarians support inclusive change? (with Dr Rebecca Gordon, IDD)

The IDD Guest Seminar Series is delighted to welcome our very own Dr Rebecca Gordon, Research Fellow in Leadership for Inclusive and Democratic Politics, IDD to discuss the joint project by the Development Leadership Programme (DLP) and Westminster Foundation of Democracy (WFD): 'How can parliamentarians support inclusive change?'

Abstract:

Strong democracies need all citizens to be represented by legislation and policy, to ensure better outcomes for everyone. Therefore, legislation and policy needs to be introduced which has explicitly recognised, measured and planned for the specific needs or impacts on, or improves and secures the rights for, marginalised groups, looking at categories including gender, sexuality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability and age. There has been a significant amount of research that has demonstrated the structural barriers to progress for inclusive change at the institutional level (e.g. evidence, resources etc). However, there is far less evidence on the skills and qualities that political leaders utilise to support inclusive legislative change, particularly at the parliamentary level.

Through thirty interviews with parliamentarians and former parliamentarians and twenty supplementary interviews with those involved in six case studies of successful inclusive legislation, this research sought to ask:

1. Are there specific skills and qualities that parliamentarians utilise that enable them to mobilise for, and achieve, inclusive change?
2. How are these skills and qualities utilised in this process?
3. Do these factors change depending on the structural environment that leaders and situated in?
4. How can these skills and qualities be supported and sustained?

Find out more about the 'How can MPs support inclusive change?' project.

Watch the seminar

The IDD Guest Seminar Series brings scholars and practitioners working on international development to the University of Birmingham to share their latest research and ideas. All seminars are open to staff, students, and the general public.