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 - Bereng>ere 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

`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