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Abortion, Population Control and Transnational

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Abortion, Population Control and Transnational _____________________________________ Building a “World Coalition for Life”: abortion, population control and transnational pro-life networks, 1960-1990 Kathryn Slattery School of History and Philosophy University of New South Wales Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2010 i PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Slattery First name: Kathryn Other name/s: Rose Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: Arts and Social Sciences Faculty: History Title: Building a "World Coalition for Life": abortion, population control, and transnational pro-life networks, 1960s-1994 Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) This thesis traces the emergence and evolution of transnational pro-life Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. The U.S. pro-life movement is generally understood almost exclusively in terms of changes to domestic laws, but such depictions fail to acknowledge the long-standing and at times politically powerful transnational alliances that pro-life activists forged from the 1970s onwards. Within the constellation of the U.S. Christian Right, it was these groups that have provoked a paradigm shift in the politics of family life, particularly with respect to U.S. foreign policy. U.S.-based pro-life activists found it difficult to secure tangible legislative gains even after Ronald Reagan’s 1981 inauguration. While some groups vented their frustrations by turning to direct action protests, others sought out a third way, building on transnational networks forged by an international coalition of pro-life activists since the 1970s. U.S. pro-life activists were not simply exporting their domestic cultural conflicts, however; instead, local conservatives in Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa were not only receptive to overtures from U.S. pro-life activists, but often requested their assistance. The reasons for this openness to transnational collaboration can be found in globalization’s impact on local communities worldwide from the 1970s onward. I therefore contend that globalization provided the catalysts for the emergence of the global pro-life, pro-family movement as a surprisingly powerful player in national and global political arenas by the 1990s. This thesis therefore complicates prevailing depictions of the growth of transnational civil society by demonstrating that globalization not only gave rise to progressive NGOs, but also spawned a “dark side” of global organizations that participated equally actively and adamantly in local, national, and global political arenas. To comprehend the persistence of moral conservatism as a driving force in both transnational civil society and U.S. society and politics, historians must therefore endeavour to situate these cultural and political phenomena within their broader global context—if the U.S. pro-life movement was, as Ronald Reagan suggested, the “conscience of the nation,” then global pro-family NGOs certainly aspired to be the “conscience of the world.” ii Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). Kathryn Slattery September, 2010 Signature Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. iii DECLARATIONS COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' K. Slattery AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ K. Slattery ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ K. Slattery iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are so many people I am indebted to at the end of this project. To begin with, I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Ian Tyrrell. From the outset Ian has inspired me, provided invaluable comments and criticisms, and demonstrated remarkable patience as he guided me through the process of researching and writing this thesis. Research for this thesis took me to the United States on several occasions over the past few years. I am especially grateful, therefore, for the funding from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales that facilitated my primary research trip. Thanks, too, to the Society for Historians for American Foreign Relations, for the Travel Fellowship that allowed me to attend their 2009 Conference in Falls Church, Virginia, where I was inspired both by formal presentations and informal conversations with my colleagues. Numerous librarians and archivists offered assistance while I was researching this thesis, but special thanks must go to Diane Barrie, at the Reagan Presidential Library, who went above and beyond, offering invaluable advice and help. Special thanks, too, to Sharon Sumpter and Kevin Cawley at the University of Notre Dame Archives. Thank you to all of my colleagues who have been kind enough to offer comments on my work, particularly my co-panellists and fellow participants at Australian and New Zealand American Studies and SHAFR conferences in Sydney and Virginia. I am most grateful to Vanessa Johnston and especially Nadine Zimmerli, who generously agreed to put her professional expertise to work and read and critiqued the entire manuscript. v I owe a further debt to a seemingly endless roll call of friends and family who kindly opened their homes to me, and reinfused me with life and laughter after long days in various archives and libraries: special mentions to my L.A. girls - Michelle, Jana, and Jaime. Also to Malka for being my home away from home in Chicago, and to Amber, Em and Brett, Sara and Joe, Travis, Carla, and Christine, for making the rest of the country, from the Mid-West to the East Coast, seem like home. To my friends, in Australia, the U.S., and wherever else you’ve all wound up, thank you so much. For support, time out and distractions, I am so grateful. My sanity and sense of humour (not necessarily in order) would not have survived intact without you all. Special mention to Tash, for putting up with me at my worst and somehow always being there for the best. Thanks to the Tempus Two crew, for being the best second time around a girl could hope for. I especially want to thank Jennifer, Hannah, and Maria, as well as the rest of the UW contingent, for years of empathy and support, particularly as the finish line drew closer. I’m looking forward to cheering you all on in the very near future too! For their unflagging support and encouragement, thanks to my extended family, especially Travis, who’s been my (unpaid) assistant since I wrote the proposal for this thesis, and Carol, for reminding me that there will indeed be life after graduate school. Forgive me for not naming all of you, but if I did these acknowledgements would be as long as the thesis itself! To my mother, Mary, and my father, Larry, thanks for everything, but most especially
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