Thirsting for Women Leaders? Drought Shocks and Public Opinion in South Africa

On 19 March 2025, the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University and the Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes (Climes) will be hosting a lecture available to the public titled ‘’ Thirsting for Women Leaders? Drought Shocks and Public Opinion in South Africa’’. The event will be held in a hybrid setting, in-person or on zoom.

About the seminar

This lecture explores the intersection of environmental shocks and political representation, focusing on how droughts influence public opinion towards women leaders in South Africa. Dr. Sundström will present findings from his recent research, shedding light on the complex dynamics between climate extremes and gendered political behavior. Key topics of the lecture include:

• Climate Shocks and Political Behavior – How droughts and environmental crises influence public attitudes toward political leadership.
• Gender and Political Representation – The role of climate-induced crises in shaping demand for women leaders and their political participation.
• Empirical Insights from South Africa – Data-driven analysis of how drought shocks impact public opinion and governance in an African context.
• Policy and Governance Implications – What climate-driven shifts in political attitudes mean for democracy, representation, and policymaking in vulnerable regions.

The lecture will be conducted by Aksel Sundström, an Associate Professor in political science at the University of Gothenburg and the PI for the Quality of Government (QoG) Data. His research deals broadly with environmental politics and with political representation (see www.akselsundstrom.com). The paper in progress he is presenting is an output from of his recent ERC Starting Grant project, where he is interested in how environmental shocks affects women in African politics.

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The deadline to register is 18 March 2025.