Fighting for Abortion Rights in Latin America : Social Movements, State Allies and Institutions

Although they share similar socio-economic and cultural characteristics as well as their recent political histories, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay differ radically in their abortion policies. In this book, Cora Fernández Anderson examines the role social movements play in abortion reform to show how different interaction patterns with state actors have led to three different policy outcomes: comprehensive abortion reform in Uruguay; moderate abortion reform in Chile; and no legal abortion reform in Argentina. Synthesizing a broad range of literature and drawing on in-depth field and archival research, she analyzes the strength of the campaigns for abortion reform, their relationships with leftist parties in power and the context of Church–state relations to explain this diverging trajectory in policy reform. A masterly analysis of how social movements, the power of institutions and Executive preferences have strong explanatory power, Fighting for Abortion Rights in Latin America is a perfect supplement for classes on gender and global politics. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction Methods and Data Collection The Argument Variables and Cases Literature Review and Definition of Concepts Elite Allies and Issue Networks Measuring Elite Allies Movement Strength Institutional Variables Institutionalization of the Party System Left-Wing Parties Separation of Powers Executive Preferences The Power of the Catholic Church Alternative Explanations Public Opinion International Factors Who is the Subject of Abortion Rights? A Note on Language Organization of the Book Notes Bibliography Chapter 1: Abortion in Latin America Legal Status of Abortion in Latin America: Origins and Consequences The Resilience of Abortion Restrictions The Catholic Church, Gender and Abortion Rising Evangelicals Abortion: A Different Issue? Timing Matters Cross-Class and Cross-Gender Mobilization Abortion Stigma Human Rights in Dispute Abortion in the Southern Cone Regulating Abortion in Uruguay Regulating Abortion in Chile Regulating Abortion in Argentina Notes Bibliography Chapter 2: The Case of Uruguay: Working Together towards Comprehensive Abortion Reform Political Context: An Institutionalized Democracy Party System and Left-Wing Political Parties Executive Branch and Separation of Powers The Power of the Catholic Church The Women’s Movement and the Fight for Abortion Reform in Uruguay The Women’s Movement in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s The 2001 Campaign to Legalize Abortion Number of Organizations Support of Key Social Actors Media Presence Public Opinion Support Street Protests Building Alliances with Congress Phases of Collaboration Between the Movement and Allies in Power The 2002 Bill The 2006 Bill The 2010 Bill Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 3: The Case of Chile: Co-Opting the Demand for Abortion Reform Political Context: A System Closed to Reform Party System and Left-Wing Political Parties The Executive Branch and the Separation of Powers The Power of the Catholic Church The Women’s Movement and the Fight for Abortion Reform in Chile The Women’s Movement in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s New Initiatives for Abortion Reform Number of Organizations Support of Key Social Actors Media Presence Public Opinion Support Street Protests Women’s Movements and the Concertación: Tensions and Conflicts Post-Democratic Transition (1990–2010): A Weak Movement and an Indifferent Party Moderate Abortion Reform (2010–2018): Alliances, Co-optation and New Demands Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 4: The Case of Argentina: Political Indifference, Stasis and Resilience Political Context: A Fluid, Unstable and Unpredictable Political System Party System and Left-Wing Political Parties Executive Branch and Separation of Powers The Power of the Catholic Church The Women’s Movement and the Fight for Abortion Reform in Argentina The Women’s Movement in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s The Campaign for Legal, Safe and Free Abortion Number of Organizations Support of Key Social Actors Media Presence Public Opinion Support Street Protests Political Indifference: A Challenging Political Context for Civil Society–Government Collaboration Early Experiences (1980s–1990s) Néstor Kirchner Administration (2003–2007): High Expectations in a Promising Political Context Expanding Access: Feminist Activists and the Health Ministry A Woman President (2007–2015): Hopes Deflated Fears of Co-Optation: Mistrust Towards the Political System Cardenal Bergoglio and Pope Francis I Empty Signatures: Weak Commitment from Congress Increasing Access through the Judiciary: The 2012 F.A.L. Case Collaboration with Provincial Health Ministries Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 5: Conclusion: Abortion Reform in the Southern Cone – Beyond the Pink Tide Major Findings of the Study Implications of the Theoretical Model Generalizability: Moving Beyond the Three Case Studies Beyond the Pink Tide: Collaboration and Abortion Reform under Right-Wing Governments Argentina: The Green Tide and the 2018 Debate on Abortion Reform Future Steps Notes Bibliography Index "Although they share similar socio-economic and cultural characteristics as well as their recent political histories, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay differ radically in their abortion policies. In this book, Cora Fernández Anderson examines the role social movements play in abortion reform to show how different interaction patterns with state actors have led to three different policy outcomes: comprehensive abortion reform in Uruguay; moderate abortion reform in Chile; and no legal abortion reform in Argentina. Synthesizing a broad range of literature and drawing on in-depth field and archival research, she analyzes the strength of the campaigns for abortion reform, their relationships with leftist parties in power and the context of Church-state relations to explain this diverging trajectory in policy reform. A masterly analysis of how social movements, the power of institutions and Executive preferences have strong explanatory power, Fighting for Abortion Rights in Latin America is a perfect supplement for classes on gender and global politics"-- Provided by publisher