University of Twente Student Theses
How is EU Agricultural Policy and the European Union Perceived by Young Farmers in Germany
Heine, Marlene (2024) How is EU Agricultural Policy and the European Union Perceived by Young Farmers in Germany.
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| Abstract: | This bachelor thesis examines the perceptions of young German farmers towards the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Union (EU) as an institution, with a particular focus on the CAP reform for 2023 – 2027. This reform aims to promote climate-friendly agricultural practices and has thereby provoked diverse reactions due to its complexity and the shift from traditional direct payments to sustainability-linked subsidies. The central research question addressed in this thesis is: How are the EU agricultural policy and the European Union perceived by young farmers in Germany? Using the theories of rational choice and social constructivism, three sub-questions and hypotheses were formulated to explore this topic further. Additionally, the thesis investigates whether a negative attitude towards the CAP leads to a negative perception of the EU as a whole. This research highlights the social and scientific importance of understanding the perspectives of young farmers, given their generation’s central role in the future of sustainability across EU agricultural policy. Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted as the data collection method, allowing for a structured yet flexible dialogue to capture a range of opinions. The interviews targeted young farmers aged 25 – 40 who employ conventional or sustainable farming methods. The data was analyzed using a deductive coding method to reveal the relationship between personal motives, societal influences, and economic factors shaping young farmers’ views on EU agricultural policy and its administration. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 89 political science |
| Programme: | Management Society and Technology BSc (56654) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/101582 |
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