The complex relationship between feminist movement building and elections
This issue of Making Change Happen (No. 7) collects and analyzes the experience of JASS and its partners in organizing around elections. We look at key questions of why engage with electoral cycles, the different ways women’s organizations relate to electoral processes, and the potential pitfalls and progress. This issue draws from JASS’ experience in all three of its geographical regions — Southeast Asia, Mesoamerica and Southern Africa — and spans experiences, activities and reflections concentrated in the period 2020—2025. It combines years of experience, research, and organizing on central issues of power, advocacy, narratives and Feminist Popular Education and capacity-building, viewed through the lens of building and strengthening movements with a feminist perspective. As democracy faces global threats of rising authoritarianism and eroding public confidence, we hope that this publication will feed deeper reflections and debate and help move us toward practices that defend real democracy and freedoms — for women and for the defense of life.
