Synopses & Reviews
Abortion continues to challenge established political alignments; the virulent, divisive arguments it causes will continue to affect political agendas. This unique collection examines in-depth the interplay of abortion politics with various political, cultural, and institutional arrangements. These original essays are exceptional in their study of the impact the abortion issue has had on a wide variety of liberal democratic political systems. Writers examine policy in eight countries (including the United States), then reveal and analyze the similarities and often vast differences between methods of dealing with abortion. This study's combination of methodological variety and precise focus make it a fundamental, indispensable guide to understanding the complexities of abortion politics.
Synopsis
The New Politics of Abortion compares the reactions of eight Western political systems to demands for abortion legislation. The abortion issue is not easily integrated into party doctrines and consequently has been marginalized except where effective pressure groups have intervened. Examining the experience of Europe and the US in the last two decades, the contributors draw the surprising conclusion that the effect of abortion legislation has in many respects been minimal. The availability of abortion is ultimately dependent less on the law than on the existence of good medical facilities.