The feminisation of Italian governments. Towards a more gender-equal distribution of political power?
Abstract
This article investigates whether a more equal gender distribution of power has emerged in Italian governments. Applying the newly developed ‘Political Power of Roles’ model, which measures the power of cabinet positions, we analyse the share of government power held by women senior and junior ministers from 1992 to 2024. The three most recent governments (Conte II, Draghi, and Meloni) are those exhibiting greater feminisation in terms of an overall increase in women’s power. In the Meloni government, this increase is largely driven by her appointment as Prime Minister, but also by the inclusion of a substantial share of women among junior ministers. Overall, our findings reveal a feminisation process slower than implied by the mere share of women ministers.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Gender Politics and Representation
Populism
Right-Wing Movements
Historical Gender and Feminism Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- South European Society & Politics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1–32
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN