Does Legislative Responsiveness Pay Off? Abortion Law in Argentina

• In Event: Representation in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of pro-choice social movements on the composition and voting behavior of Congress, using Argentina as a case study. The Argentinian context is particularly relevant as the country saw the rejection of an abortion bill in 2018 and its subsequent approval in 2020. This period included legislative elections in half the provinces, leading to a unique scenario where some legislators voted on both bills either within the same term or following reelection, while others voted on only one. Our research investigates whether the "Marea Verde", a grassroots pro-choice movement, influenced two key outcomes: the alteration of congressional composition in the subsequent election and the modification of legislators' roll-call votes. We delve into the mechanisms through which voters either support or penalize candidates, employing a conjoint survey experiment. Our findings aim to provide insights into the extent of social movements' influence and the conditions under which legislative power is more receptive or resistant to their demands.

Authors

• Francisca Castro, International Security and Development Center

• Jennifer Oser, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel