INSPiRE · Intersectional Practices in Representation: Claiming Space, Making Change

Democracy in Europe faces persistent challenges. Women and minoritized groups remain underrepresented in parliaments, while social movements that should amplify their voices often reproduce internal inequalities. At the same time, the rise of anti-gender and far-right mobilizations undermines equality policies and democratic institutions. Against this backdrop, INSPiRE investigates how inclusive democratic representation can be achieved across both institutional and extra-institutional arenas.The project explores two interrelated questions: how intersectional practices and emotional dynamics shape inclusion and exclusion within feminist movements and parliaments, and how claims originating in movements are translated, reshaped, or resisted within institutional arenas. Focusing on Catalonia and the Basque Country—two contexts with strong feminist traditions —INSPiRE will use qualitative methods, including interviews, participant observation, and process tracing, to generate new insights into the conditions that foster or hinder inclusive representation.By bridging social movement studies and democratic theory, and by foregrounding the role of emotions, INSPiRE will advance both academic knowledge and practical strategies for equality. The project will deliver peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and co-created guidelines with activists and policymakers. In doing so, it will strengthen Europe’s capacity to build more inclusive, resilient, and democratic societies.