MUJERES-94 - DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION AND THE WOMENS MOVEMENT IN EL-SALVADOR

Periods of democratic transition may provide space for increased polit ical participation by women. Often, however, women's participation ine xplicably falls off after the transition period to former low levels. This article argues that the form women's participation takes in trans itions is crucial to both the shape of the resulting new democracy, an d the subsequent impact of the new democratic institutions on building or sustaining a women's movement. A case study of the 1992-1994 trans ition period in El Salvador suggests that women must be present and co ntribute to the transition; form autonomous organizations but remain e ngaged with the state; and transform their political behavior from opp osition to interaction with the new state.