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Abortion and Divorce in Western Law

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Mary Ann Glendon is among the most talented members of the faculty of the Harvard Law School, and this book is a detailed comparison of abortion and divorce laws in the major developed nations. Such a comparison leads to the conclusion that American law on these matters is the most extreme in the developed world. Glendon then argues that the peculiar extremity of our legal situation reflects the deficiencies of a constitutional order that places unprecedented importance on rights, a contention which is further developed in her book, Rights Talk. This book is very valuable in dispelling the notion that where we Americans stand with regard to abortion and divorce is simply consistent with the law of other Western nations.

Mary Ann Glendon tackles a very difficult task with great care and precision - she attempts to engage in a conversation about two very emotional and complex subjects which usually find people either at polar extremes from one another or completely ambivalent and ignorant of the real discussion at hand - these two issues are abortion and divorce. To embark on this conversation, Glendon suggests that we consider not how America has addressed these issues, but rather how the rest of the Western world has done so through their laws and regulations - and she does so with great precision.

Would you be surprised to discover that the United States has the most liberal laws regarding both the regulation of abortion and the application of divorce in the entire western world?! I was. But Glendon doesn't just stop with the comparison, she seeks to examine how and why this situation exists and it is through her careful examination that one can learn how to better address and speak to these complex and controversial subjects here in America.

The book is not an easy read, but I believe it is an important read for everyone wanting to not merely understand the current situation of abortion and divorce on demand, but also wish to change the present landscape on these issues. Glendon realizes that changing any one law isn't going to change the perception or attitude of an entire country, but she does realize that something must be done and she seeks to better prepare and equip those entering into the fray with solid background information that can be used to advance much needed change in these areas.