Symbolic image representing the balance of justice and women's rights in a secular legal system.

The Abortion Rights Debate: Why It Matters for Democracy

Nico Varela in Politics & Policy June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unpacking the political significance of abortion rights and its connection to state secularism and women's citizenship."

The struggle to legalize abortion has seen limited progress in many parts of the world. Understanding the political significance of this issue is crucial, as it serves as a barometer for the secularism of a state—a necessary condition for a functioning democracy. Without the right to make autonomous decisions about their bodies, women's citizenship remains incomplete.

The influence of religious institutions, while significant, doesn't fully explain the stagnation in advancing abortion rights. This article examines why abortion is not merely a matter of individual choice but a critical component of broader democratic principles and gender equality.

Examining the relationship between abortion rights, state secularism, and gender equality reveals why this debate is central to the health of democratic societies. By exploring these connections, this article aims to reignite the conversation and propel meaningful change.

The Critical Role of State Secularism

Symbolic image representing the balance of justice and women's rights in a secular legal system.

Historically, state secularism in Europe emerged not as a matter of principle, but as a practical necessity driven by political realism. Over time, the separation of state and religion evolved into an intrinsically superior model, becoming a prerequisite for modern politics. As John Rawls noted, religious tolerance exemplifies how a modus vivendi—coexistence among different doctrines due to mutual inability to eliminate each other—can transform into a consensus.

The Reformation era underscored that religious division was so profound that no ruler, Catholic or Protestant, could eradicate dissent. This led to formulas accommodating minority sects and a departure from the medieval maxim of unified faith, law, and ruler. Secular power became the arbiter of religious disputes, a stark contrast to the Church's former role as the judge of politics.

The evolution towards state secularism involved recognizing religious freedom as a fundamental right.
It defines an area of individual autonomy the State cannot coerce.
Democracy's foundation lies in the will of the people, unconstrained by religious dogma.
The inherent uncertainty of democracy clashes with religious oversight.

Democracy requires a secular state as a logical consequence of its principles. If the people's will is sovereign, it cannot be predetermined by religious rules. Bronisław Baczko argues that democracy's characteristic openness is incompatible with religious guardianship. The only legitimate limits to popular sovereignty are those preserving its exercise—guaranteeing freedom of thought, association, and expression. Fundamentalist religious groups directly challenge this, advocating for a 'nation under God,' compelling democrats to defend state secularism, essential to democracy.

Reclaiming the Narrative

To advance abortion rights, it's essential to reframe the issue, removing it from its moral confines and mobilizing political support. This involves emphasizing the right to abortion as a matter of individual autonomy and state secularism—necessary for a functioning democracy. The journey is challenging, but by recognizing the intersectional nature of these rights, we can pave the way for a more just and equitable society.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/s0104-026x2012000300004, Alternate LINK

Title: Aborto E Democracia

Subject: Gender Studies

Journal: Revista Estudos Feministas

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Luis Felipe Miguel

Published: 2012-12-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why hasn't there been more progress in legalizing abortion, and what specific narrative shift could help?

The stagnation in advancing abortion rights is influenced by the political framing of abortion as a matter of individual choice, rather than a critical component of broader democratic principles. Reframing the narrative to emphasize the right to abortion as a matter of individual autonomy and state secularism is essential for mobilizing political support and advancing abortion rights. Though religious institutions' influence is significant, the article does not fully elaborate on other potential factors contributing to the stagnation. Focusing on the intersectional nature of abortion rights with state secularism and individual autonomy is key to meaningful change.

How did state secularism evolve historically, and why is this evolution important for understanding modern political systems?

State secularism, particularly as it emerged in Europe, wasn't initially driven by idealistic principles but by practical political realism. Over time, this separation of state and religion evolved into an intrinsically superior model, essential for modern politics. The Reformation era demonstrated that religious divisions were irreconcilable, leading to accommodations for minority sects and a departure from unified faith, law, and ruler. Secular power became the arbiter of religious disputes, a significant shift from the Church's previous role as the judge of politics. This transformation highlights the necessity of state secularism for a functioning democracy.

Why is state secularism a logical consequence of democratic principles, and what challenges do religious groups pose to this?

Democracy requires state secularism because the will of the people should be sovereign, unconstrained by religious dogma. Bronisław Baczko argues that democracy's openness is incompatible with religious guardianship. The only legitimate limits to popular sovereignty are those preserving its exercise—guaranteeing freedom of thought, association, and expression. Fundamentalist religious groups directly challenge this, advocating for a 'nation under God,' compelling democrats to defend state secularism as essential to democracy. While the article notes this connection, it does not delve into specific examples of how religious dogma directly conflicts with democratic processes.

In practical terms, what does it mean to reclaim the narrative around abortion rights, and how does it relate to democracy?

Advancing abortion rights involves reframing the issue from a moral debate to a matter of individual autonomy and state secularism, which are necessary for a functioning democracy. By recognizing the intersectional nature of these rights, we can pave the way for a more just and equitable society. It requires mobilizing political support by emphasizing these connections and challenging the traditional framing of abortion as solely a matter of individual choice. The article suggests that the journey is challenging but does not provide specific strategies or tactics for effectively reclaiming this narrative.

According to John Rawls, how does religious tolerance evolve into a consensus, and what are the key elements of this transformation?

John Rawls noted that religious tolerance exemplifies how a modus vivendi—coexistence among different doctrines due to mutual inability to eliminate each other—can transform into a consensus. This transformation involves recognizing religious freedom as a fundamental right and defining an area of individual autonomy that the State cannot coerce. While the article mentions Rawls, it could further explore the specific mechanisms through which such a transformation occurs and the challenges in achieving a consensus on religious tolerance in diverse societies.