This article critically assesses efforts
to increase women's representation in
parliament in the Arab world. The author
begins by exploring the cultural context
for the marginalization of women in the
Arab world and then examines the strategy
of increasing female political
representation through parliamentary
quotas and comprehensive affirmative
action programs. The author argues that
Arab states should implement parliamentary
quotas (using a fast track model) to
overcome political segregation, and engage
womens intellectual capital in the