Women in Executive Power studies the participation of women in the political executive around the world—notably in cabinet positions as ministers and sub-ministers and as heads of government and state.

Providing multiple case studies in each chapter, the book provides regional overviews of nine different world regions covering those with the fewest to the most women in executive power. Evaluating the role of socio-cultural, economic and political variables of women’s access to cabinet positions and positions of head of state and government, the book shows that women are increasingly moving into positions previously considered ‘male’. Tracing the historical trends of women’s participation in governments that has markedly increased in the last two decades, the book assesses the factors that have contributed to women’s increasing presence in executives and the extent to which women executives, once in office, represent women’s interests.

With case studies from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, the Arab world and Oceania, Women in Executive Power will be of interest to scholars of comparative politics, gender and women's studies.