Gender and illiberalism

This chapter explores the relationship between gender and illiberalism, highlighting how gender functions as a symbolic glue in illiberal discourse. Here, illiberalism is defined as a set of policies and governance systems that oppose liberal values and democratic institutions. The chapter includes a discussion on the historical context of illiberalism, its definitions, and its impact on democratic processes. The role of gender in mobilizing support for illiberalism, particularly through the instrumentalization of ‘gender ideology’, is highlighted. The chapter also examines the strengths and limitations of current scholarship on gender and illiberalism, calling for further research to better understand the gendered nature of illiberalism and its implications for democratic erosion. The authors argue that gender is a crucial factor in the political struggle against illiberalism and advocate for a more integrated approach to academic research.