Networks of Power in the CAP System of the EU-15 and EU-27

• Published in: Journal of public policy Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 153 - 177
• Main Author: Henning, Christian H.C.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-08-2009
• Subjects: Agricultural Policy; CAP; Clientelism; Common Agricultural Policy; Comparative Politics; Corporatism; Decision making; EU-multilevel system; Europe; European Union; Farming systems; Governance; Government; Interaction; interest group theory; Interest groups; Lobbying; Mediation; Multi-level governance; Networks; Policy making; Policy Networks; Political actors; Political influence; Political influences; Political interest groups; Political power; Politicians; Politics; Quantitative Methods; Sociology; Supranationalism; Typology; policy networks; comparative politics; CAP; EU-multilevel system; interest group theory
• ISSN: 0143-814X; 1469-7815
• DOI: 10.1017/S0143814X09001056

This article utilizes a quantitative network approach to analyze complex interaction patterns of public and private actors in EU multi-level governance, concerning the common agricultural policy. It demonstrates, in particular, that the theoretically founded policy network approach provides a powerful tool for comparative politics allowing a quantitative analysis of complex governmental systems. At the micro level, lobbying strategies of different groups can be identified and compared, while at the macro level the classical Corporatism-Pluralism typology could be generalized using this network approach. Further, due to its explicit integration with a legislative decision-making model the suggested approach is a valuable tool in comparative politics as it allows testing to what extent observed lobbying structures are systematically related with specific policy outcomes. In this article the policy network approach is applied to the lobbying system of the Common European Agricultural policy of the EU-15 and EU-27.