JOHANNA KANTOLA is a Research Fellow in the Political Science Department, University of Helsinki, Finland.

• Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations PART 1: GENDER AND THE STATE: THEORIES AND DEBATES Feminist Theories of State Current Debates about Gender and the State The Arguments and Structure of the Book PART 2: FEMINIST COMPARATIVE DISCOURSE ANALYSIS Discourse Analysis Feminist Discourse Analysis Political Discourse Analysis Feminist Comparative Discourse Analysis PART 3: FEMINISTS 'IN' THE STATE? CHILDCARE DEBATES IN FINLAND Introduction Agenda-setting and Adoption: Early Feminist Discourses Implementation and Evaluation: Consolidation of Childcare Discourses Feminist Discourses in the 1994 Parliamentary Debate Conclusion PART 4: FEMINISTS 'OUT' OF THE STATE? DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEBATES IN BRITAIN Agenda-setting and Adoption: Early Feminist Discourses Implementation and Evaluation: Consolidation of the Discourses Feminist Discourses in the 1993 Parliamentary Debate Conclusion PART 5: COMPARISONS OF FEMINIST DISCOURSES ABOUT THE STATE Introduction Domestic Violence Debates in Finland Childcare Debates in Britain Comparative Conclusions for Feminist Perspectives on the State Conclusion PART 6: GENDER, STATE AND NEW INSTITUTIONS Introduction The Scottish Parliament The European Union Conclusion PART 7: NEW DIRECTIONS FOR FEMINIST STATE THEORY Notes Bibliography Index