Better Politics Foundation, 2025

A case study on women’s political leadership

This briefing is a practical resource for those working to modernise political leadership – from civil society organisations and funders to political actors and researchers. It introduces the concept of Political Leadership Norms: the informal, often overlooked expectations that shape who is able to lead and how.

These norms influence everything from representation and behavior to trust in institutions and political violence. This paper offers a starting point for better understanding these dynamics and provides tested strategies for those ready to engage with them.

Transforming norms toolkit

The Better Politics Foundation How To Guide for practitioners is a tool to help plan and start transforming Political leadership norms. As part of a comprehensive brainstorming and mapping exercise, the guide walks you through identifying norms, behaviors, and reference groups.