The Janus Face of EU Agricultural and Development Policies: An analysis of the consequences for the developing countries caused by contradictive EU policy processes

摘要

This study takes its point of departure on the mechanisms and effects of globalisation. The focus is set on the relations between EU and the developing countries. The central problem that this study seeks to examine is whether the EU policies on agriculture and development as well as their respective policy processes are attributing factors to the negative effects of globalisation that several developing countries experience due to contradictions in EU policies and EU policy processes. In order to conduct these examinations the analyses of the EU policies on agriculture and development are based on the official treaty establishing the European Community. The analyses on policy processes are based on academic works on EU policy processes. The examination of the consequences for the developing countries is based on analyses of case studies that together represent the situation in developing countries. The theoretical frameworks for conducting the analyses of EU policies are based on traditional economic trade and development theories that allow a theoretical categorisation of the policies. In order to analyse the various policy processes a multi-dimensional approach of policy analysis is applied. The analyses of the consequences that EU policies and policy processes have for the developing countries are analysed on the basis of an abductive approach consisting of theoretical and empirical examinations. The classifications of the two policy areas conclude that contradictions exist between the theoretical approaches to EU policy on agriculture and EU policy on development. The contradictions lie in the different theoretical notions about how to generate economic growth, the effects of a liberal world economy, and the consequences of capitalism. Furthermore the categorisation of the two policies finds that contradictions exist within the two policies: classic liberalism theoretically contradicts protectionism in agricultural policy in terms of understandings of effects of free trade and liberal economies. In parallel development policy’s Modernisation theory and neo-Liberalism contradict post-Imperialism and neo-Marxism on the basis of the effects imperialism, micro and macro economic focuses, and the relation between the developed and the developing countries.The multi-dimensional approach to policy analysis enables conclusions on differences in policy processes in terms of different policy natures with different policy processes resulting in first and second policy priorities. Another reason is the different policy instruments that are used to attain the objectives set in the policies. Due to the different policy priorities policy instruments are clearly defined in the agricultural policy but lack in the development policy. Furthermore the different policy processes allow for the inclusion of other policy actors than the EU institutions; These actors are able to influence the policy processes in a direction that favours the actors’ economic and political interests. In contrast, the development policy processes are not subject to influential actors to the same extent. The layout of the official EU decision procedures implies different policy settings for decision making in the two policy areas: EU agricultural policy is decided on in a supranational forum, whereas development policy decision takes place in an intergovernmental forum. The contradictions in EU policies and policy processes lead to consequences where EU’s development programmes are undermined by the effects of the agricultural policy. Furthermore, internal inconsistencies in the development policy prevent the general situation in the developing countries from improving.