Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy: History of a Paradigm Change (Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics)

Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy provides a comparison of the reforms of the European common agricultural policy. It analyses the determining factors by applying a multi-level (international, European and national), a multi-issue (agricultural and non-agricultural), and a policy network approach (the evolution of the corporatist model). It is demonstrated that the international trade level played a determining role. It discusses whether cumulative changes brought about a paradigm change and argues that policy feedbacks of each reform generated change, up to a change in policy paradigm. Why Did The Eu's Common Agricultural Policy (cap) Remain Unchanged For More Than Thirty Years And Then Reform Three Times In A Decade? Did The Reforms Really Produce A Change In The Values And Goals Of The European Agricultural Policy? These Are The Main Questions That This Book Answers In An Original Application Of The Most Recent Theories Of Policy Change. Different Levels Of Policy Making Were At Work; International Trade, Eu Integration And National Preferences. Various Mechanisms Reinforced Each Other To Produce Further Change: Feedback Effects From One Decision Onto Another, The Transformation Of The Policy Network From A Closed Circle Of Experts And Professionals Into A More Open, Society-wide Forum Of Discussion. All These Evolutions Transformed The Paradigm Of The Eu Agricultural Policy From A 'dependent' Into A Multifunctional Paradigm.--jacket. 1. Introduction -- 2. Analytical Framework -- 3. The Institutional Context -- 4. Thirty Years Of Immobility -- 5. Policy Changes Since 1992 -- 6. The Macsharry Reform (1992) -- 7. Agenda 2000 (1999) -- 8. The Fischler Ii Reform (2003) -- 9. The Increasing Role Of Policy Discourse In Agricultural Policy -- 10. The Determinants Of Policy Change -- 11. Applying Policy Feedback Approach To Cap Reforms -- 12. Paradigm Change In The Common Agricultural Policy (cap) -- 13. Conclusion. Isabelle Garzon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 201-210) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-3 Analytical Framework....Pages 5-13 The Institutional Context....Pages 15-20 Thirty Years of Immobility....Pages 21-39 Policy Changes since 1992....Pages 41-59 The MacSharry Reform (1992)....Pages 61-75 Agenda 2000 (1999)....Pages 77-96 The Fischler II Reform (2003)....Pages 97-119 The Increasing Role of Policy Discourse in Agricultural Policy....Pages 121-139 The Determinants of Policy Change....Pages 141-147 Applying Policy Feedback Approach to CAP Reforms....Pages 149-168 Paradigm Change in the Common Agricultural Policy....Pages 169-175 Conclusion....Pages 177-184 Back Matter....Pages 185-215 Reforming the Common Agricultural Policy presents an unprecedented comparison of three successive major reforms of the CAP. It shows the influence of related issues such as international trade negotiations and budget constraints and demonstrates that factors such as opening of the policy network and feedback were key to accelerating change.