EGEN 2026: Gender and Politics Community Gathered in Bergen

 On 11–12 June 2026, the SUCCESS project at the University of Bergen hosted a joint workshop with Empirical Study of Gender (EGEN), bringing together international scholars to discuss new research on gender and politics. The two-day workshop provided a forum for presenting and discussing ongoing research across a broad range of topics, including women's political careers, political representation, gendered institutions, political behaviour, social movements, and gender-based political violence.

Organised as an intensive read-ahead workshop, the event encouraged in-depth discussions and constructive feedback on research in progress. The programme combined parallel paper sessions with plenary presentations and panels, creating opportunities for scholarly exchange across different research traditions and career stages.

A central theme was the role of political institutions in shaping women's opportunities to enter, advance, and remain in political office, reflecting key research questions within the SUCCESS project. Other presentations explored gendered partisan institutions, political leadership, electoral behaviour, women's mobilisation, and the relationship between gender and political power across different regional contexts.

A highlight of the workshop was the keynote address by Melanie Hughes (University of Pittsburgh), titled "Men Are Not a Control Group: Rethinking Power and Representation in Gender and Politics Research." The programme also featured a roundtable on "Gender Equality and Scholarship Under Attack," with contributions from Sophia Boutilier (Fresno State), Aili Mari Tripp (University of Wisconsin–Madison), and Francesca Feo (University of Bergen), moderated by Cecilia Josefsson (Uppsala University).

The workshop brought together researchers from universities across Europe, North and South America, providing an opportunity to strengthen international research networks and develop new ideas and collaborations.

The SUCCESS project was delighted to welcome the EGEN community to Bergen for two days of stimulating discussions and scholarly exchange.