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Gender and Politics Research Network in South-East Europe (GenPolSEE)

Feminist social science research has been developing over the last three decades intensively, aiming at gendering research methodologies, theoretical debates and empirical research. Feminist political science, neighbouring disciplines and interdisciplinary research have shaped new approaches to theory and practice, and have sought to produce work that is of direct relevance to achieving women’s movement goals, whether within public policy or within political institutions broadly conceived. Gender and politics research seeks to identify obstacles to change and the possibilities for a broad gender-responsive transformation. However, we are witnessing a continual marginalisation of feminist political analysis in the “mainstream” social sciences and growing opposition to gender studies in Europe and beyond. These negative developments have indeed arrived in South-East Europe and the feminist political science is still on the margins, very much dependent on individual engagement and endeavours.

In order to promote regional cooperation and collaborative approaches, the Gender and Politics Research Network in South-East Europe (GenPolSEE) was established at the Founding Meeting in November 2022, hosted by the national Institute of Social Science (Belgrade) and the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory of the University of Belgrade.

GenPolSEE is an informal, board-based feminist network of researchers interested in fostering research on gender and politics in South-East Europe.

Objectives of the GenPolSEE

Strengthening peer-to-peer learning and exchange among gender and politics researchers in the region;
Promoting contemporary feminist research methodologies among scholars from the region and strengthening links with international experts, networks and platforms;
Conducting empirical research aimed at supporting change, innovation and transformation, and promoting research from the region internationally;

The thematic research focus

Gender and representation: institutions, critical actors, arenas of representation, women’s and social movements, masculinities and intersectionality;
Gender and backlash: anti-gender movements, backlash on women’s and LGBTI rights, right-wing politics;
Gender and public policy: gender equality legislation, inclusive policy making, accountability mechanisms, gender mainstreaming, gender-responsive budgeting;

Activities of the GenPolSEE

Informal exchange via a network mailing list & social media channels;
GenPolSEE webinar series;
GenPolSEE network meetings;
Thematic national or comparative, regional research projects.

GenPolSEE coordination group

Lilijana Čičkarić, Principal Research Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade
lcickaric@idn.org.rs
Adriana Zaharijević, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade zaharijevic@ifdt.bg.ac.rs
Saša Gavrić, PhD Researcher/Associate, University of Leipzig
Tajma Kapić, Freelance researcher, Sarajevo
Merita Poni, Associate Professor, University of Tirana

GenPolSEE members

Ada Guven, Lecturer, Bedër University College, Tirana
Adelina Hasani, PhD, independent researcher, Prishtina
Ajla Skrbić, Guest Professor, Freie Universität Berlin
Adnan Kadribašić, Independent, Sarajevo
Amila Ždralović, Associate Professor Law Faculty, University of Sarajevo
Biljana Đorđević, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Biljana Kotevska, Independent, Skopje
Edma Ajanović, Danube University Krems
Elena Nacevska, Researcher, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana
Esilda Luku, Faculty of Political Sciences and Law, Aleksander Moisiu University of Durres
Ivana Pantelić, Research Associate, Institute of Contemporary History, Belgrade
Irena Cvetovikj, Koalicija Margini, Skopje
Irena Fiket, Research Fellow, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade
Jelana Lončar, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Jelena Riznić, Junior Researcher, Institute of Social Science, Belgrade
Jure Skubic, Assistant and Researcher, Institute for Contemporary History, Ljubljana
Karolina Lendák-Kabók, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad
Katarina Lončarević, Associate Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Krisztina Rácz, Research Fellow, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade
Lirije Paushi, Teaching Assistant, Department of Political Science, Prishtina
Maja Gergorić, PhD student, University of Zagreb
Manja Veličkovska, independent, Skopje
Marija Risteska, izvršna direktorka, Centar za istraživanja i izradu politika, Skopje
Marjeta Šinko, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb
Marsela Dauti, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Policy, University of Tirana
Merita Poni, Lecturer, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana
Milan Urošević, Research fellow, Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade
Milica Antić Gaber, Full Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Milica Resanović, Research Associate, Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade
Nada Drobnjak, Independent, Former Member of Parliament, Montenegro
Nikoleta Đukanović, Assistant Professor, University Donja Gorica, Podgorica
Nina Perger, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Olivera Komar, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Political Science, Podgorica
Paula Petričević, independent research, Kotor
Rok Smrdelj, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Roman Kuhar, Full Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Slavcho Dimitrov, Koalicija Margini, Skopje
Tajma Kapić, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dublin City University
Tanja Vučković Juroš, Marie Curie Fellow, University of Zagreb
Vjollca Krasniqi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Prishtina
Zorana Antonijević, Associate, Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade
Zlatiborka Popov Momčinović, Associate Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University of East Sarajevo

Next to the gender & politics researchers from South-East Europe and working on South-East Europe, we also accept affiliated members of international scholars working on gender & politics in South-East Europe. GenPolSEE has following affiliated members:

Anja Vojvodic, Lecturer, City University of New York, LaGuardia Community College

Our network will grow and further develop with the support of following international gender & politics scholars, members of our the GenPolSEE Friends Board. Those are:

Petra Ahrens, Academy Research Fellow, Tampere University
Sarah Childs, Professor, University of Edinburgh
Karen Celis, Research Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Mona Lena Krook, Professor, Rutgers University

GenPolSEE initiated publications

Thematic Issue: Political Representation of Women: Global Theory and Empirical Reality from South-East Europe, guest editor: Saša Gavrić, in GENERO – A Journal of Feminist Theory and Cultural Studies 27 (2023)
Roman Kuhar and Adriana Zaharijević (editors): Anti-Gender Mobilizations in Post-Yugoslav Space. Palgrave (forthcoming).