Gender equality, pre-accession assistance and Europeanisation

Viac o knihe

This dissertation examines the effectiveness of gender equality policies during the Eastern enlargement of the European Union from 1993 to 2004, focusing on Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The post-1989 transformation from communist to democratic systems provided an opportunity for Europeanisation, influenced by factors similar to those in older EU member states. However, the Europeanisation process for these candidate countries significantly differed due to their communist past, EU conditionality, and a comprehensive pre-accession strategy. Political and economic transformations led to a backlash against gender equality, revealing a misfit between national and EU levels. This research aligns with Europeanisation studies, positing that such a misfit is a necessary but not sufficient condition for change, highlighting the role of domestic influences. The dissertation explores Europeanisation through specific projects, illustrating the dynamic between top-down EU influences and bottom-up approaches. While the EU provides funding and opportunities, successful implementation relies on the domestic structures of candidate countries. To support the realization of these projects, seven Agency and Opportunity Structures are identified as crucial.