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This is an overview of population policies and their underlying doctrines in Eastern European countries since World War II. The author describes three chronological stages: "an orthodox populationist stage, from 1945 to 1955...; a phase of liberalization of abortion and at times of contraception from 1955 to 1965; and from this latter date, as a reaction against the accelerated decline of fertility, a phase of abortion and divorce restriction and of growing aid to family, likewise [marked] by the creation of National Population Committees and Institutes of Demographic Research." The countries of Eastern Europe are divided into three classifications: those with no population policy (Albania only); those with indirect measures, including Poland, Yugoslavia, and the USSR; and those with explicit, quantitative demographic goals, including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, and Romania. The effectiveness of selected population policies is assessed. (SUMMARY IN ENG)

This is an unannotated bibliography of literature concerning Eastern European population policies, with an emphasis on policies pertaining to fertility. The bibliography is organized into two sections: the first is devoted to population theories and policies, fertility, contraception, and abortion; the second presents citations by country. An author index is included. Eastern Europe is defined as including Albania, the USSR, and Yugoslavia.

Abortion laws for each of the countries of Eastern Europe are summarized. Changes in these laws during the postwar period are outlined. Eastern Europe is defined as including Albania, the USSR, and Yugoslavia.

Technical and biological aspects of contraception are discussed and their relations with important demographic variables such as mortality, fertility, and marriage rates are analyzed. In France (and in Eurpope generally) contraception does not seem to have resulted in fewer illegitimate births or premarital conceptions. It does not appear to have contributed to a lower age at marriage, or to increased numbers of marriages. Some deaths due to pregnancy or illegal abortion may have been prevented by contraception. It does not seem to have been a factor in sexual liberation or in the decline in fertility, which was evident before contraception was legalized in France.