Doctors and demonstrators : how political institutions shape abortion law in the United States, Britain, and Canada / Drew Halfmann.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Halfmann, Drew.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Abortion--Law and legislation--United States.

Abortion.

Abortion--Law and legislation.

Abortion--Political aspects.

United States.

Abortion--Law and legislation--Great Britain.

Abortion--Law and legislation--Canada.

Abortion--Political aspects--United States.

Abortion--Political aspects--Great Britain.

Abortion--Political aspects--Canada.

Canada.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

xi, 354 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2011.

Summary:

Since Roe v. Wade, abortion has continued to be a divisive political issue in the United States. In contrast, it has remained primarily a medical issue in Britain and Canada despite the countries' shared heritage. Doctors and Demonstrators looks beyond simplistic cultural or religious explanations to find out why abortion politics and policies differ so dramatically in these otherwise similar countries. Drew Halfmann argues that political, institutions are the key. In the United States, federalism, judicial review, and a private health care system contributed to the public definition of abortion as an individual right rather than a medical necessity. Meanwhile, Halfmann explains, the porous structure of American political parties gave pro-choice and pro-life groups the opportunity to move the issue onto the political agenda. A groundbreaking study of the complex legal and political factors behind the evolution of abortion policy, Doctors and Demonstrators will be vital for anyone trying to understand this contentious issue. Book jacket.

Contents:

Abortion reforms of the long 1960s

The reforms and their roots

Medical interests and priorities

After reform

Abortion services

The politicization of abortion

Policy change after reform

Political institutions and abortion policy

Appendix 1. Statements on abortion in American party platforms, 1972-2008

Appendix 2. U.S. Supreme Court cases on abortion

Appendix 3. Abortion attitudes in the United States and Britain

Appendix 4. Abortion funding and provision in the United States, Britain, and Canada, 1970s-2000s

Appendix 5. Abortion attitudes in the United States, Britain, and Canada, 1975-2004.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0226313433

9780226313429

0226313425

9780226313436

OCLC:

700735476

Publisher Number:

99946135644