Electoral Engineering in New Democracies: Strong Quotas and Weak Parties in Tunisia

Abstract Bridging the literature on gender and politics, democratization, political parties, this article investigates causes of parties’ varying compliance with electoral quotas. Whereas research has so far focused willingness to comply, sheds light their ability do so. It suggests that more quotas parties have comply with, complex quotas’ designs, difficult implementation becomes for organizationally weak we often encounter in new democracies. The argument is developed substantiated a comparative analysis quota 2018 Tunisian local elections. Although Islamist party was able fully all (for women, youth people disabilities), small secular lost number lists state funding due non-compliance. While were highly effective securing group representation, they had repercussions system consolidation.