Let me state that I think polygamy as practiced today in many parts of the world is practiced in a way that is unfair to women. read more
The thing is, when we invented law and order, a long, long time ago, the law was based on the cultural norms. And in no western country, polygamy has ever been accepted. This is, simply, the answer: The legal systems in modern, especially western, cultures have banned polygamy based on cultural norms. read more
Polygamy may benefit certain individuals, but it is disastrous for communities. In countries where polygamy is legal, women's rights have to be restricted to force them to go along. Very few women will choose being some old man's 5th wife if they can get a job, own property, or inherit. read more
The legality of polygamy varies widely around the world. Polygamy is legal in 58 out of nearly 200 sovereign states, the vast majority of them being Muslim-majority countries situated in Africa and Asia. In most of these states, polygyny is allowed and legally sanctioned. Polyandry is illegal in virtually every state in the world. The rest of the sovereign states do not recognize polygamous marriages. read more