1st Edition
Women's Political Leadership for Sustainable Development Driving Political Innovations
This book posits that women’s political leadership is vital for transitions to a sustainable future. It investigates the unsustainability of the current social order, offers strategies for achieving sustainable development, and explores the structure and agency variables that enable women political leaders to successfully drive political innovations for a greater societal transformation.
This book sheds light on the genesis of the current capitalist social order, the transformational role of the state, political leadership, political innovations, and particularly women leaders in driving sustainable development. The book analyses three case studies of women leaders who have successfully implemented political innovations for sustainable statehood and development on national, regional, and local governance levels: Jacinda Ardern, Carole Delga, and Valérie Plante. From these case studies, the author demonstrates which agency and structural prerequisites are crucial for women political leaders to become a driving force behind creating the conditions needed for a sustainable future.
Taking both a theoretical and an empirical approach, this is key reading for graduate students and researchers interested in political leadership, gender and politics, political innovations, sustainability sciences, and transition research. It will also be of interest to political leaders, and those advising them, looking to understand the leadership styles, skills, and strategies needed to successfully drive progressive political agendas for sustainable statehood and development.
Introduction: The Leadership we need
Part 1. The Need for Sustainable Development
1. Examining the Unsustainability of the Global North’s Social System
2. Crafting Strategies for a Sustainable Social System
3. Sustainable Statehood as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Development
Part 2. How Leaders may drive Political Innovations for Sustainable Development
4. Understanding how Context Influences Political Leadership
5. Cultivating Change-Driven Leadership Styles and Skills
6. Exploring Women’s Political Leadership for Sustainable Development
Part 3. Cases of Women’s Political Leadership for Sustainable Development
7. Jacinda Ardern: Pioneering National Political Innovations
8. Carole Delga: Championing Regional Political Innovations
9. Valérie Plante: Driving Local Political Innovations
Part 4. Practical Research Implications
10. Lessons for Women Political Leaders Driving Political Innovations for Sustainable Development
Conclusion: The Future Potential for Women Political Leaders and Sustainable Development
Biography
Anna-Katharina von Stauffenberg is a political scientist and former strategy consultant who founded a Government Technologies startup based on the insights in this book. She lives in Münster, Germany.
"In the face of the current polycrisis, future- and mission-oriented policy-making is highly needed. In her profound analysis, Anna-Katharina von Stauffenberg demonstrates the promising potential of women’s political leadership for sustainable development and political innovations for sustainable statehood. Highly recommendable!"
Professor Harald Heinrichs, Leuphana University, Germany.
