This paper attempts to investigate the conceptual and material bases of women’s historic exclusion from the formal arena of politics; analyse strategies adopted around the world to promote women’s political participation/representation; identify internal and external conditions and factors that facilitate or hinder the creation of an enabling environment for women’s political empowerment; and finally draw policy recommendations for the national and international actors. The article argues for clear guidelines for implementation of affirmative measures that lead to the empowerment of women and research, documentation and dissemination of successful experience in the world needs to be improved so that it promote women's participation in politics.