Protectionism, Populism, or Participation? Agrarian Parties and the European Question in Western and East Central Europe

Abstract

Abstract European integration has raised some awkward questions for almost all national political parties in Europe, but few party families have displayed greater variation than the agrarian parties. Some of the parties that have their roots in the defence of agrarian and rural interests oppose supranational European integration in principle, others oppose particular aspects of the European Union (EU) regime or plans for further integration, and yet others broadly welcome most aspects of the EU and its public policy regime. Whereas agrarian interest groups in the six original member states have long provided solid support for the European Economic Community (EEC) and its successors, many of the political parties that emerged in defence of agrarian interests or identity elsewhere in Europe have proven less enthusiastic about European integration.