Why do Post-Civil War Countries Fast-Track Gender Quotas? The Case of Nepal.

This article examines why postwar developing countries, with a focus on Nepal, rapidly adopt gender quotas to increase women's legislative representation following civil conflict. It argues that three interrelated factors drive this fast-track adoption: war-induced disruptions of traditional gender roles, a sustained and deep-rooted national women's movement with prewar activism, and supportive but not decisive international influences, including norms such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325). The case of Nepal illustrates how the Maoist insurgency challenged patriarchal norms and empowered women, while women's organizations capitalized on political opportunities after the conflict to successfully lobby for a 33% legislative quota for women, institutionalized in the 2007 Interim Constitution and the 2015 Constitution. The study concludes that international support alone is insufficient without active domestic mobilization, highlighting the importance of national context and women's agency in postwar gender quota adoption.