In brief, concise chapters, this volume considers the status of abortion in Europe today. Each chapter provides an overview of abortion in the subject country, including the historical background; the current legal, medical, and social situation; and the political forces for and against abortion.

In an introductory chapter, the editors consider the issues pertaining to abortion in the aftermath of the Cold War. The volume then includes chapters on Austria, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the former Soviet Union. Each chapter was written by an authority of the country, and the contributors were asked to answer a specific set of questions concerning the law in the subject country, abortion in practice, the politics of abortion, and the future. The approach makes the book a valuable tool for comparative analysis.