Review by Choice Review
In the academy many publications appear to be written solely for other scholars. Such is the case with this volume. Political scientists Claire Annesley (Univ. of Sussex, UK; A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe, 2005), Karen Beckwith (Case Western Univ.; Women, Politics and Governance in West Europe, 2012), and Susan Franceschet (Univ. of Calgary; Women and Politics in Chile, CH, Nov'05, 43-1832) combine their scholarly talent to reveal (primarily to those in academia) why the administrations of seven democracies with elected presidents or prime ministers (Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Spain, the UK, and the US) often include few, or no, women. This suggests the old boy network functioning at its best, and to a great extent this is the case: the tendency is for male prime ministers and presidents to appoint to leadership positions those they know--usually men much like themselves. Thus a gendered pattern exists. Sometimes leadership creates and supports a "concrete floor" (i.e., a minimum quota of women), and support for this goal often carries through to subsequent administrations. Those interested in this subject should read Madeline Albright's Madam Secretary: A Memoir, 2003. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty. --Paul D. Travis, Texas Woman's University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
