Overcoming resistance to women's political representation in Kenya, with Saskia Brechenmacher (SE 2020)

In recognition of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship at Cambridge, this article is part of a short series of interviews profiling the fascinating work and achievements of Gates Cambridge Scholars at Selwyn College. Learn more about the Gates Cambridge 25th anniversary celebrations here.

Around the world, efforts to involve more women in politics face significant resistance from existing powerholders. Saskia Brechenmacher has spent her career researching global democracy. For her PhD at Cambridge, she focused her attention on violence against women in politics in Kenyan local politics. We spoke with her about her findings and how her research can help foster greater inclusion of women in political life.

Could you tell us a bit about your background?

I’m originally from Germany and grew up between Germany and France, though since 2016, I’ve been based in the Washington DC area, where I now live with my husband Phil and our dog Sam.

I first moved to the US in 2008 for my undergraduate studies in political science at Brown University. After graduating, I worked for a few years before pursuing a master’s in international affairs at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Following that, I worked at a DC think tank researching global democracy issues.

And it was this work that directly influenced your PhD research?

Yes, my work at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace explored international efforts to support democracy around the world, and pushback against these efforts. I became particularly interested in the emerging field of violence against women in politics. Over the past decade, international organisations have championed efforts like quota reforms to increase women’s political participation. However, many of these women have faced significant pushback — from harassment to structural biases — that wasn’t fully anticipated by those advocating for change.

Initially, I proposed a comparative study of Kenya and Ghana, examining variation in violence against women in politics. When I arrived at Cambridge, I realised this was too ambitious. With my supervisor’s guidance, I narrowed my focus to Kenya and its subnational politics, which allowed me to get deeper with my investigation.

While my core question — what are the mechanisms and manifestations of resistance to quota reforms after they are implemented? — has remained constant, my understanding has evolved. Spending nearly a year in Kenya, I found that overt violence, while present, wasn’t the sole or even primary resistance tactic against women in politics. Instead, informal institutions and norms often relegated women to secondary roles, undermining their political authority in subtler but equally harmful ways.

My dissertation now examines how these informal practices uphold existing political hierarchies, shifting the focus from explicit violence to all the other forms of resistance that women face after entering politics.

What sparked your interest in these topics?

My interest in democracy began in high school when I had the unique opportunity of attending the then-newly founded United World College in Mostar, Bosnia. The school focused on post-conflict reconciliation in the Balkans, and that experience shaped my interest in democracy, peacebuilding, and transitions from autocracy to democracy.

At university, I studied comparative politics and Russian, focusing on the post-Soviet region. Over time, my focus became more global, but I remained interested in problems of democratic consolidation and backsliding. My PhD builds on this, exploring women’s political representation in a developing democracy.

And now that you’re at the end of your research, particularly given your policy background, what impact would you like it to have in the real world?

I see two levels of impact: the immediate, micro level and the broader, macro level. My research focuses on Kenyan local politics, so, of course, the most direct audience are those working in that sphere — women’s organisations promoting political participation, democracy advocates, and local governance experts.

I've already made some efforts to spread what I’ve learnt. I went back to Kenya this summer to share my findings with some of my original interviewees and hope to do so again, particularly if I can get my dissertation published. My dissertation helps define the limits of the current subnational quota system and the potential problems that would come with scaling it up to a national level, which is currently an ongoing debate in Kenya.

On a broader level, I hope my work resonates beyond Kenya. I want to encourage advocates and organisations to look beyond gender quotas and consider how to dismantle the informal power structures that keep marginalised groups out of politics, as these structures are often where much political authority lies — especially in newer democracies. Only then can women’s representation translate into genuine equality in wielding political power.

As someone who already works in policy — would you like to continue in academia now that you’ll have a PhD under your belt?

Early in my PhD, I realised I didn’t want to pursue a full-time academic career. However, I do love research and my work at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace bridges academic research and policy. I get to work on research projects with a focus on shaping policy— a balance I really enjoy.

In the future, I’d also love to work on some of the issues I am passionate about in a more applied manner—perhaps as part of an advocacy organization or a philanthropic foundation focused on democracy, rights, and gender equality. I would also consider adjunct teaching: I’d love to teach a class on the links between autocracy, democracy, and women’s political representation, for example.

Ultimately, I’m driven by the desire to help protect and strengthen democracy and gender equality in a context of rising political polarization and authoritarian threats. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship always resonated with me for that reason — they encourage you to consider the role you want to play in addressing the world’s challenges.

How did you hear about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

I first learned about the scholarship while researching funding for master’s programmes. Friends who were Gates Cambridge Scholars always spoke highly of their experiences. When I later applied for my PhD scholarship, I was thrilled that it worked out.

Pursuing a PhD had always been a goal of mine, and a UK programme was particularly appealing as a mid-career professional: I’d already completed a master’s, and I was eager to focus directly on my dissertation rather than spend two additional years on coursework, as is typical in the US.

You had a rather unusual start to your course because of the COVID lockdown period, and much of your research and writing was also done while abroad. How did you stay rooted during all of this?

I started my course on-site at Cambridge, which helped bring me into the ‘PhD mindset’. I got to meet my cohort both online and occasionally in person around Cambridge, and this sense of community was crucial during the first year, which can be challenging as you’re laying the groundwork for your research and often grappling with self-doubt. Since I lived in the college’s postgrad housing, I also got to know Selwyn quite well too.

In my second year, I was mostly in Kenya, which was a very different environment. I had to immerse myself fully in fieldwork, which made staying connected to Cambridge a bit harder. My supervisor, Dr Sharath Srinivasan, was fantastic, as we stayed in regular contact, speaking every two weeks. Those check-ins kept me focused and ensured my findings tied back to the questions at the centre of my dissertation. It was a great balance of independence and guidance. I also made sure that I continued pursuing my passions outside of work. Whether I was in the UK, in Kenya, or writing up in the US, I spent lots of time in nature and rock-climbing with friends.

What memories of Selwyn will you take with you?

Returning to Cambridge in the autumn of my third year was one of the highlights of my PhD. By then, I felt more settled in my research and I really enjoyed being back in such an enriching academic environment to work through my data analysis. Small moments like walking across the Selwyn grounds to the library in the morning or enjoying the peaceful gardens are memories I’ll always treasure. I also loved the magical traditions, such as attending the Christmas choral service at Selwyn Chapel. I’ll always hold a deep appreciation for the beauty and community that shaped my time at Cambridge.

If you would like to join Selwyn for your postgraduate study, you can learn more about postgraduate scholarships at Selwyn on the Cambridge University student funding website here.

One of the scholarship options open to applicants from outside the UK is the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Learn more on their website here.

Your can read our previous profile in this series here: "Where birds meet the tides: the importance of protecting Asia's coastal mudflats, with Sayam Chowdhury (SE 2014)"

All photos used with permission of Saskia Brechenmacher.