Concepts of democracy and human rights in abortion debate : Theme analysis of the abortion discourse in Poland

Abstract: Democracy and human rights are concepts whose definition depends on contextual cues. The paper analyzes what themes related to those concepts can be found in the context of abortion discourse in Poland in the years 2020-2023 and how they define or redefine these ideas, especially in the context of democratic regression. The study uses theme analysis to find common patterns and establish a clear structure. Findings present two main themes: values present in the discourse with three subthemes: morality and rights, church influence and national identity, question of doctors; and present institutions and their role: validity of Tribunals verdict and question of who should decide on this law. Themes prove some significant shifts in the discourse compared to previous studies and further show a divide in the definitions of democracy and human rights in Poland.