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Abortion Policy in Western Democracies: A Cross‐National Analysis
Author(s) -
BROOKS JOEL E.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
governance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.46
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1468-0491
pISSN - 0952-1895
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0491.1992.tb00043.x
Subject(s) - abortion , typology , abortion law , legislature , democracy , political science , family planning , public administration , law , sociology , demography , population , research methodology , politics , pregnancy , anthropology , biology , genetics
This article provides a comparative analysis of abortion policies for 21 countries in Western Europe and North America. First, after briefly discussing the historical evolution of abortion attitudes and policies, a typology of current abortion laws is presented. Second, the mode of determining abortion policy is compared — judicial (Germany, Canada), legislative (Britain, France), and direct democracy (referenda in Italy, Ireland). Third, the question of abortion policy implementation is considered. In other words, does the legal status of abortion really make a difference regarding the pattern of availability and use of abortion services? Fourth, potential explanatory variables (left‐wing party strength, feminism, Catholicism) regarding the content and process of abortion policies is evaluated.