Women in politics and public service today step into an arena that is increasingly visible, more polarized, and more volatile. The risks they face are no longer limited to policy disagreements or electoral competition, but gender-based political violence has become a structural feature of public and political life in many countries. As the environment shifts, resilience is not about enduring in silence, but about understanding the terrain, positioning strategically, and acting deliberately. This course is designed for women considering entering politics, those currently serving in public office, senior advisors, and organizations committed to strengthening women’s leadership in public life.

While progress has been made in countering disinformation, malign foreign engagement rarely operates through information manipulation alone. It may involve financial leverage, grey-area election observation, cyber activity, and other subversive actions. Focusing only on some risks misses broader strategic patterns. At the same time, claims of interference are increasingly weaponised. Legitimate electoral assistance may be reframed as a hostile action. Lawful influence may be conflated with covert interference. When definitions collapse, allegations themselves become destabilising tools—putting institutions under pressure to react quickly, often without clear standards. This course addresses that gap.