Mid Sweden University

While discussions regarding the decline in democracy and the weakening status of abortion until recently have been held separately, these processes seem to have occurred in parallel. This essay aims to evaluate the relation between the two. Existing feminist arguments related to the basic liberal principles of citizenship builds the claim that there is a theoretical connection between abortion rights and liberal democracy. This furthermore guides the hypothesis and the main purpose for this essay – understanding the place of abortion rights within a liberal democracy. Studying 43 European countries a statistical analysis finds a fairly strong correlation between liberal democracy and abortion rights. A simple regression analysis finds that a countries level of liberal democracy has an impact on a countries level of abortion rights. Women’s disproportionate association with reproductive labor complicates their opportunity to fully enjoy the rights promised by the liberal democratic ideas. Considering the impact restricted abortion rights may have on women’s citizenship the correlation can likely be referred to its impact on gender equality. However, abortion- or reproductive rights are not included as a variable in the big democratic indexes. Finally, the key conclusion in this essay concludes of abortion rights as democratic policy making.