The New Politics of Abortion

by Joni Lovenduski (Editor), Joyce Outshoorn (Editor)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803980075
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	11/01/1986
Series:	SAGE Modern Politics series , #11
Pages:	186
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.39(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction - Joni Lovenduski and Joyce Outshoorn
The New Politics of Abortion
The Rules of the Game - Joyce Outshoorn
Abortion Politics in the Netherlands
Abortion as a Marginal Issue - Alvin Cohan
The Use of Peripheral Mechanisms in Britain and the United States
Parliament, Pressure Groups, Networks and the Women's Movement - Joni Lovenduski
The Politics of Abortion Law Reform in Britain (1967-83)
The Politics of Abortion in Ireland - Vicky Randall
Abortion Policy in France under Governments of the Right and Left (1973-84) - Janine Mossuz-Lavau
Feminism and Abortion Politics in Italy - Lesley Caldwell
Abortion in Belgium - Berengère Marques-Pereira
Consensus and Conflict on the Political and Institutional Scene
The Abortion Issue, Political Cleavage and the Political Agenda in Norway - Jorun Wiik
The Marginal Relevance of Legislation Relating to Induced Abortion - Evert Ketting and Philip van Praag

Editorial Reviews

‘Unlike many edited collections, the contributions build on each other, with introductory and closing chapters welding the book into a coherent and integrated whole...(it is ) an excellent collection of case studies.' — The Times Higher Education Supplement, 13.4.87

‘The high quality of all the essays and their successful integration of conceptual and historical or empirical analysis makes this book an admirable text for policy analysts and comparative political scientists as well as for those solely interested in abortion itself.' — West European Politics

‘a lucid and interesting analysis of the varying experiences of eight communities — Political Studies, Vol 35 No4, Dec 1987

‘essential reading for anyone interested in the abortion issue or in the impact of feminist struggle or pressure group politics.' — Women's Studies Internaional Forum, Vol 10 No 6, Dec 1987

‘an invaluable book for a student of politics interested in the way in which different interest groups impact on each other and on the legislature. It is also fascinating for the light it throws on the different tactics of pro- and anti-choice campaigners in different countries.' — Journal of the National Abortion Campaign

‘The book has a great deal to offer.' — People, Vol 15 No 2, 1988

From the Publisher