This innovative textbook provides students with a lively and wide-ranging introduction to the roles and achievements of women in contemporary politics. Accessibly written for an undergraduate readership, the book addresses both theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding women's participation in politics as candidates, party members, elected representatives, cabinet ministers and leaders. It focuses on the presence of women in formal political institutions across a broad range of countries, including the UK, France, Norway, Germany, Russia, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India, to demonstrate that women are, at last, beginning to exert pressure on political affairs by behaving differently from men. The book is divided into sections, each of which focuses on a different area of political activity - for example, the development of women's political activism and feminist engagement with political theory; voting and elections; political parties and the specifics of women's partisanship; parliaments; local and international government. Each chapter contains a concise introduction outlining the core issues for discussion, a concluding summary of key points and an annotated guide to further reading. Women in Contemporary Politics will be an invaluable resource for all students of politics and international relations. It is the only book of its kind to offer such a comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of the theory and practice of politics from the female perspective.