Liberalism ends halfway? Reproductive behaviour, health institutions and legislative framework in socialist Yugoslavia

The article examines abortions in socialist Yugoslavia, focusing on the motives of couples for limiting childbirth, government stances, and legislative policies, as well as the perspectives of medical professionals. I will look at the gradual development of state abortion policy and analyse the underlying motives for these changes. I use the term ‘liberalisation’ to describe the transformation process of abortion legislation and practices, drawing attention to the ambivalent role of law and legislation in guiding administrative practice and shaping citizens’ behaviour. I will show that the Yugoslav government’s liberal policy towards abortion until the late 1960s was not based on liberal, pro-feminist views, but was rather caused by social and economic necessities. The study is based on archival sources from the Archive of Yugoslavia, selected periodicals, and relevant literature.