Rising far-right women leaders in Europe

This thesis examines the role and importance of women leaders in the context of European identity and values. The impact of the new right movements rising in Europe on these values is analyzed. Principles such as human rights, rule of law, democracy, gender equality, social solidarity, peace, freedom of expression, and freedom of belief and religion form the basis of European values. The relationship of women leaders with these values is evaluated; the attitudes of leaders who act in accordance with these values and those who adopt conflicting strategies are compared. The gender equality discourses shaped around the concept of feminationalism and the impact of these discourses on women leaders in Europe are examined. It is important to understand the changes in women's rights and gender equality for the future of Europe. The rise of new right movements makes the roles of women leaders more visible. Women's leadership is effective not only in terms of representation but also in terms of discourse production, policy development and value shaping. The presence of women in politics has a multi-layered relationship with the fundamental principles of Europe. This study aims to analyze the roles undertaken by women leaders by monitoring political and social changes. While moderate leaders such as Angela Merkel contribute to the maintenance of European values with their approaches supporting the multicultural structure, new right figures such as Giorgia Meloni, Alice Weidel and Marine Le Pen use gender equality in a strategic and exclusionary way. They produce policies that are against European values with discourses on the axis of feminization. The roles of women leaders as representatives and transformation actors shape the current and future political orientations of Europe. This study aims to make an original and up-to-date contribution to the dynamics at the intersection of European values and women's leadership.