Representing gender interests: between the ‘politics of ideas’ and the ‘politics of presence’

In this article I address women’s political representation, predominantly as reflected in feminist political theories. I introduce several conceptual clarifications, between „gender interests” and „women’s political interests” and further explain their complex and complicated intersection with descriptive and substantive representation, especially in a country that lacked women’s/ feminist mobilization from the 60s and 70s. I argue for both a better understanding and research of political factors supporting or impending women’s political representation and give examples from national and European elections to clarify the explanatory power that political factors have. The article represents also an argument for more reflexivity in regards to political representation and for a better correlation between logos and episteme.