Religion and Politics in Argentina: a Case Study on Religious Opposition to Abortion

This study presents an in-depth analysis of the complex interplay between religion and politics in Argentina. In such country, this relationship has deep historical roots, particularly in the case of Catholicism, the majoritarian belief that has profoundly influenced public life from modern state formation to the present day. Therefore, the research explores these dynamics, both in the past and in the contemporary era, across three chapters. The first one provides a theoretical and historical overview of the entanglement between religion and politics; it then turns to the current religious structure of the country, focusing on the main belief but including minorities too, as they hold a certain significance, albeit less prominent in numerical terms. The second chapter revolves around Javier Milei’s controversial figure and, specifically, his engagement with religious traditions, given their political relevance. Furthermore, due to the frequent mention of the recently elected president as a “new populist”, an analysis of this aspect, particularly in light of the populism-religion nexus, is carried out. Lastly, the third chapter centres on a case study on religion’s opposition to Ley 27.610, namely establishing the right to safe and legal abortion in 2020. This analysis attempts to explore both institutional and civic religious actors’ role in shaping, delaying, and challenging the law’s discussion in Parliament, its approval, and finally, its implementation. Thus, by delving into these aspects, this research ultimately aims to investigate the extent of religion’s enduring impact on public policies in Argentina.