Doctors and Demonstrators: How Political Institutions Shape Abortion Law in the United States, Britain, and Canada (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780226313429)

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.

Author: Drew Halfmann
ISBN-10: 0226313425
ISBN-13: 9780226313429
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Language: English
Published: 11/14/2011
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 1.00d