Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LODGE (Local Democratic Governance towards Equality: Implementation of Gender+ Equality Policies in times of Anti-Gender and Democratic Backsliding)
Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-08-31
The project Local Democratic Governance towards Equality (LODGE): Implementation of Gender+ Equality Policies in Times of Anti-Gender and Democratic Backsliding investigated how local governments develop and implement gender+ equality policies in a political climate increasingly marked by opposition to gender equality and democratic backsliding. LODGE, thus, addresses a pressing challenge facing contemporary European societies: the erosion of democratic inclusion and equality commitments in the face of resurgent anti-gender and far-right forces. Across Europe, these actors increasingly challenge gender equality and anti-discrimination institutional commitments, often undermining equality policies through overt contestation and the subtle dismantling of policy implementation mechanisms and accountability frameworks. While most research focuses on national or EU levels, LODGE brings local governments to the forefront, emphasizing their role in shaping and implementing equality policies, advancing EU egalitarian objectives, and fostering democratic innovation.
LODGE pursued two core research objectives: first, to examine how gender+ equality and democratic inclusion are addressed in the strategies of local governments; and second, to investigate the practical challenges and opportunities involved in implementing these policies. Grounded in political science, gender studies, and public policy—core social sciences and humanities areas—LODGE combines policy analysis with a qualitative fieldwork-based approach, conducted closely with technical staff from local institutions.
The project's expected impacts are multi-dimensional. Scientifically, LODGE advances academic debates on the relationship between gender equality and (de)democratization processes and the capacity of institutions to uphold egalitarian commitments in increasingly polarized political environments. It introduces innovative conceptual tools—such as feminist democratic innovations—and provides an empirical foundation for understanding equality policymaking and institutional resilience amid challenges to gender and anti-discrimination frameworks. At the societal and policy level, LODGE supports institutional actors by offering evidence-based strategies to safeguard and enhance equality measures. More broadly, LODGE contributes to the EU’s strategic objectives of advancing gender equality, democratic resilience, and inclusive governance.
LODGE pursued two core research objectives: first, to examine how gender+ equality and democratic inclusion are addressed in the strategies of local governments; and second, to investigate the practical challenges and opportunities involved in implementing these policies. Grounded in political science, gender studies, and public policy—core social sciences and humanities areas—LODGE combines policy analysis with a qualitative fieldwork-based approach, conducted closely with technical staff from local institutions.
The project's expected impacts are multi-dimensional. Scientifically, LODGE advances academic debates on the relationship between gender equality and (de)democratization processes and the capacity of institutions to uphold egalitarian commitments in increasingly polarized political environments. It introduces innovative conceptual tools—such as feminist democratic innovations—and provides an empirical foundation for understanding equality policymaking and institutional resilience amid challenges to gender and anti-discrimination frameworks. At the societal and policy level, LODGE supports institutional actors by offering evidence-based strategies to safeguard and enhance equality measures. More broadly, LODGE contributes to the EU’s strategic objectives of advancing gender equality, democratic resilience, and inclusive governance.
The project was organized into five work packages covering planning and management, policy analysis and data collection, data analysis and scientific writing, training and career development, and dissemination and communication. Despite the premature conclusion of the fellowship (month 17 of 24), LODGE achieved seven out of ten planned deliverables and nine out of thirteen milestones. Core activities included an extensive state-of-the-art review, a policy analysis report, fieldwork and interviews, academic publications, and a first version of a technical report aimed at policy experts. While some dissemination and communication goals could not be achieved due to the project's early termination, LODGE enabled five project-related academic publications, seven conference presentations, three invited lectures, and one public outreach talk. The forthcoming policy report is expected to continue generating impact beyond the project’s official timeline. On a career level, LODGE also played a pivotal role in securing a permanent position for the principal investigator within a research institution in the host country.
LODGE contributes to advancing the current state of the art by shedding light on how local institutions innovate in the design, adoption, and implementation of gender equality policies. The project developed and systematized key theoretical insights, most notably the concept of feminist democratic innovations, to capture how local administrations, informed by feminist expertise from civil society and public servants, can foster inclusive and participatory governance. Thus, the project underscored the relevance of local governments as key actors in defending European values of equality, inclusion, and democratic participation. LODGE also enriches a growing body of interdisciplinary research on the interplay between gender equality and democratization, asserting the centrality of equality and equity in ongoing debates about democratic erosion and institutional resilience. In this context, the fellow advocates for a deeper dialogue between mainstream political science and gender and intersectionality scholarship, arguing that polarization over egalitarian commitments lies at the heart of (de)democratization processes.