ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at Poland, Argentina, and Ireland, and the trajectory of abortion rights and activism surrounding them. Although culturally distinct, the influence of the church and religion over state apparatus, which has a significant bearing on abortion discourse, is a common underlying theme in this chapter. Disenfranchisement, nationalism, and criminalisation are central, as the history of abortion in these countries has undergone significant change since the middle of the 20th century. We see that symbolisms in the regions are integral to grassroots activism, and this chapter seeks to draw out these interlinkages between religion, the state, and the operative debates around reproductive rights in these countries. In Ireland’s case, I particularly address its entry into the European Union and its democratic practice in looking at abortion rights and citizenship discourse.
