Surviving Global Change? Agricultural Interest Groups in Comparative Perspective

This engaging volume investigates the fate of national industry associations amidst global change through analysis of interest group organizations representing farmers and agricultural producers. It asks how these groups have fared during a period of global change and examines the challenges inherent in their operation in the 21st century. Case studies from North America, Europe and Australasia provide illuminating research into farm interest groups at the national level and organizational features of individual groups. It will be of value to scholars and researchers in the fields of global governance, political science and rural studies.

Contents: Agricultural interest groups and global challenges: decline and resilience, Darren Halpin. Part I: European Union: An insider group under pressure: the NFU in Britain, Wyn Grant; Farm interest groups in Ireland: adaptation, partnership and resilience, Alan Greer; Uniting to meet challenges: Danish farm interest groups in the 21st Century, Carsten Daugbjerg; France's FNSEA: a giant on clay feet?, Christilla Roederer-Rynning; Farmer unions as relevant players in the Spanish farm interest group system, Eduardo Moyano-Estrada. Part II: Australasia: 'Digging deep to keep their clout': agricultural interest groups in Australia, Darren Halpin. Part III: North America: Farmers, interests and the American state, Graham K. Wilson; The uphill struggle to prevail: national farm organizations in Canada, Grace Skogstad. Part IV: Conclusion: Conclusions: the fate of groups in a 'globalizing era', Darren Halpin; Appendices; Index.

Halpin, Darren