Towards a Theory of the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

This paper sets up two competing frameworks to assess the evidence of the CAP reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. The two frameworks differ in the degree of prominence given to interest groups in affecting CAP decisions. The paper concludes that the most important mechanism behind CAP reforms is the interaction of EU institutions and member state governments. Interest groups, at national or EU-level, have limited influence on the reform process. The paper does not claim to have developed a new theory of CAP reform but rather aims to suggest a direction for the development of a high content theory that is able to account for the differences between episodes of CAP reform as well as the similarities.