Democratization and Political Participation: The Situation Room

In this chapter, Elizabeth Prügl discusses an initiative that has proliferated in Africa called the Women’s Situation Room. It responds to election violence associated with the process of transition to democracy. It is an ensemble of activities that women engage in, called the three M’s—Mobilization, Monitoring, and Mediating—to ensure that elections are free, fair, and free of violence. This method ensure that a broad swath of the population participates in the election. It also builds democracy with a strong narrative about what women are.