From the Far-Right to the Far-Left: Women Populist Leaders in Global Perspective

This thematic issue explores the rise and impact of women populist leaders across the ideological spectrum, from the far-left to the far-right, in a global context. Women populist leaders, whether in France, Germany, or Italy, lead the polls and win landslide regional and national elections—an empirical reality unimaginable to feminists and the progressive left a few decades ago.

This raises questions: How do women populist leaders perform in office, and with what impact on gender equality, LGBTIQ, and minority rights? What motivates women to elect, support, and run for parties and movements that reject contemporary feminism? While much of the existing literature has focused on male populist leaders, this collection addresses the gendered dimensions of populist leadership, analyzing how women navigate and reshape political landscapes traditionally dominated by men.

Combining single-case studies and comparative analyses, the issue examines the political strategies, rhetoric, and policies of women leaders in Europe and beyond. Contributions investigate the conditions that enable their rise to power, the ways they reconcile or challenge traditional gender norms, and their influence on both party dynamics and broader political institutions.

By focusing on the diverse ideological orientations of these leaders, the issue aims to uncover the commonalities and differences in their leadership styles, the role of gender in their political trajectories, and their impact on the representation of women’s interests and the empowerment of women in politics. This collective effort sheds light on the paradoxes of populist leadership and its implications for contemporary democracy.