January 2026| Winter Seminar with the SUCCESS team

The SUCCESS project team is looking forward to the winter seminar on January 28–29. This two-day meeting marks an important moment for the project, offering time to reflect on what has been learned so far and to think strategically about the road ahead.

The seminar has two main goals. First, it aims to build a shared understanding of the data and findings emerging from the project. Second, it is intended to use these insights to begin shaping future research plans. To support these goals, the seminar is organized around two themes: day one focuses on the data and what it reveals, while day two centers on planning ahead and discussing next steps.

Day 1: Taking Stock of Our Findings

The first day will feature presentations from team members on the data collected across the different work packages and how these findings relate to the project’s core research questions.

Research Question 1

Why do career strategies affect women’s political endurance in elected office?

For RQ1, team members will present findings based on data from France, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Algeria. These presentations will cover information on elected representatives, their support networks, and insights from qualitative interviews.

A dedicated session will also focus on the mixed-methods components of RQ1. This includes presentations on the Norwegian politician panel, career data from Italy, and a discussion of the potential use of a Simulation App as part of the analytical toolkit.

Research Question 2

Why are some politicians rewarded and others penalized by voters for lack of experience?

The RQ2 session will focus on both ongoing and planned work. This session will include discussion of upcoming data collection efforts as well as an overview of relevant tests conducted using citizen-level data.

Research Question 3

Why and how does the gender gap in political endurance vary across time, regions, and political systems?

For RQ3, the focus will be on the large cross-country dataset developed for this part of the project. The presentation will introduce the cases included, highlight key trends, and review resulting publications. The aim is to ensure familiarity with the dataset and its main findings.

The seminar will also include a presentation of the Africa dataset developed as part of the project.

Day 2: Looking Ahead

The second day will shift toward planning and forward-looking discussion. Attention will be given to how the different strands of the project connect, where gaps and opportunities remain, and what priorities should guide the next phase of the SUCCESS project.