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Moral pressure groups and the process of value implementation : a case study of the abortion debate

thesis
posted on 2023-05-26, 18:56 authored by Morehead, Alison F(Alison Frances)
This thesis analyses the distinctive characteristics of moral pressure groups and evaluates their contribution to the process of value implementation. The abortion debate is examined as an example of a moral debate involving the participation of moral pressure groups. The emergence of a system where values become elaborated around moral issues is outlined. The analysis begins with a review of the current literatures that deal with moral pressure groups and moral issues. The review concludes that the concepts and theoretical frameworks used in the literatures are incapable of distinguishing moral pressure groups from other types of pressure groups, despite claims within the literatures that moral pressure groups are distinct Components of Talcott Parsons' theory are discussed and it is concluded that his theory offers the researcher specific advantages for studying processes of social transformation. His concepts are used as the basis for the development of a new framework suitable for understanding the activities of moral pressure groups. An adaptation of Parsons' model of the social system is presented (Figure 2) that contains several new concepts with which to understand the distinctive characteristics of moral pressure groups and moral issues. Figure 2 locates the activities of moral pressure groups in a wider system of participation in moral debates. This model is then reformulated specifically in terms of the abortion debate (Figure 3). A discussion of the abortion debate in Australia includes an explanation of how and why abortion came to be debated as a moral issue. This discussion also identifies the major participants in the debate other than pressure groups and locates them within the model. The activities of seven Hobart abortion pressure groups are then examined at length in a case study. The case study concludes that members of these moral pressure groups are operating as moral entrepreneurs rather than as political actors. The thesis suggests how the Hobart abortion pressure groups can increase their chances of success. The applicability of the framework to other moral debates and groups is discussed. The benefits of using Parsons' theory to examine empirical processes are outlined.

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Copyright 1988 the author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s). Thesis (M.A.)--University of Tasmania, 1988. Bibliography: leaves 160-167

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