Abstract from the author

This article focuses on abortion politics in 22 Western democracies. It shows that there is a significant party impact on abortion policies. Countries which were ruled a long time by conservative parties produced more restrictive abortion laws than countries with a strong presence of left-wing parties in government. Moreover, in some countries the abortion policy is also influenced by direct democracy and constitutional courts.

• 1. Einleitung
• 2. Historische Entwicklung
• 3. Internationale Praxis
• 4. Politisch-institutionelle Einflussfaktoren
• 5. Schluss