Political power and decision-making in the aftermath of Nairobi: the case of Mauritius

Mauritius is considered to be a highly stable democracy in the African region. It has experienced remarkable economic growth and progress and boasts a comprehensive welfare state and highly literate population. However, despite its outstanding achievements, the Mauritian democracy is fundamentally flawed, as it has failed to effectively represent women who comprise 52 percent of the population. This article argues that the rigidity of the political system and patriarchal culture, combined with the high salience of the ethnic dimension in Mauritian politics have caused the country to fail to uphold international commitments made since the Nairobi Conference in terms of assuring women's presence at the highest level of decision-making.