Council on Foreign Relations 4d ago

This episode unpacks the unique challenges faced by women leaders, their contributions to democracy, and the critical lessons they offer in the fight against authoritarianism. Enter the CFR book giveaway by July 8, 2026, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Women in Power by Linda Robinson. You can enter the giveaway here at: cfr.org/giveaway Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Linda Robinson, Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy, CFR; Author, Women in Power Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism We Discuss: 1. Why women's political representation has stalled at roughly 27 percent in the world's legislatures. 2. How right-wing authoritarianism and the normalization of violent misogyny have combined to create ferocious headwinds for women in politics. 3. Whether women govern differently from men, and what the research reveals about their attentiveness to health, education, welfare, and climate issues. 4. Why rolling back women's rights is central to authoritarian and right-wing movements, and why playing the "misogyny card" proves so effective, even among women voters. 5. Why some of the most prominent nationalist movements—in Italy, France, and Germany—are led by women, and how right-leaning figures like Giorgia Meloni complicate the picture. 6. How authoritarian governments use hybrid warfare and gendered disinformation against women leaders, including Chinese campaigns against Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen and Russian campaigns against Moldova's Maia Sandu. 7. Which common themes emerge among successful women leaders. 8. Which policy reforms could strengthen both democracy and women's political participation. 00:00 - Introduction to The President’s Inbox 01:45 - Linda Robinson on Women in Power 03:10 - Geopolitics of Female Leadership 05:30 - Global Progress in Gender Equality 08:20 - Women’s Roles in Conflict Resolution 11:00 - Impact of Female Heads of State 14:15 - Barriers to Political Participation 17:40 - National Security & Gender Diversity 20:55 - Economic Benefits of Inclusion 24:30 - Case Studies: Africa and Europe 28:15 - Foreign Policy & Women’s Rights 31:40 - Future Outlook for Women Leaders 34:50 - Mentorship and Institutional Change 36:40 - Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways Find us Women in Power, With Linda Robinson - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/women-in-power The President’s Inbox - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-presidents-inbox/id1172546141 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/65u6jcFyV5BnlVhhzSi7UJ Related Content Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism - https://www.cfr.org/books/women-in-power Hope in Action: A Memoir About the Courage to Lead - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Hope-in-Action/Sanna-Marin/9781668069639 Freedom in the World 2026: The Growing Shadow of Autocracy - https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2026/growing-shadow-autocracy Expanding Representation: Reinventing Congress for the 21st Century - https://www.amacad.org/ourcommonpurpose/publication/congressional-reform-proportional-representation TAKE IT DOWN Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146 The Digital Services Act - https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act First Five - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27943492/ Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or our guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy. Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/cfr The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher. Visit the CFR website: http://www.cfr.org Follow CFR on X: https://x.com/cfr_org Follow CFR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/councilonforeignrelations Follow CFR on Instagram: @CFR_org