European abortion politics are often overshadowed by global superpowers like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, among several others. Based on this information, we tend to visualize Europe as a haven for abortion rights–and for the most part, this idea holds true. Europe has trailblazed the legalization of abortion, with over 95% of people of reproductive age living in countries that allow access to the procedure. Despite the wide-scale acceptance and legalization of abortion across Europe, a handful of nations still enforce highly restrictive or total bans; these include Andorra, Malta, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Poland, and Vatican City. All of the latter countries, except for Poland, are considered microstates. In this paper, I analyze and explore this paradox and attempt to explain why these microstates retain total or very restrictive bans in the face of the liberalization of abortion. I propose that these microstates maintain restrictions on abortion because of the uniquely strong influence of the Catholic Church, the presence of a politically powerful monarchy, the relative ease of access to countries where abortion is legal, and weak or stifled abortion rights movements.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["Microstate","Abortion","Europe"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 33902