This article examines the state of post-war Guatemala focusing on gender and democracy. I argue that real, substantive democracy requires the full incorporation of women into the political process both at the party and societal level. I maintain that a gendered analysis of democratization is essential to obtain a meaningful picture of the social and political reality confronting societies in transition toward more democratic forms of government. I focus on the transformation of the Guatemalan guerrilla movement into a political party and discuss political participation in the wake of the accords. The analysis shows that the Guatemalan accords, exemplary from a gender perspective, have yet to be fully implemented. This situation requires a renewed societal mobilization in favor of structural change.
