A political history of the ACP-EEC sugar protocol
A political history of the ACP-EEC sugar protocol
This thesis traces the development of the Sugar Protocol of the Lome Convention (1975) from its historical antecedents in British government sugar policy to its inclusion in the EEC sugar regime and the subsequent amendments to it. It looks firstly at the different interests which are involved in the operation of the Protocol, namely the British, European Economic Community (EEC) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP). Recognising that there is a potential conflict of interests in the operation of the Sugar Protocol the thesis examines how these interests are reconciled in the changing nature of the relationship.
The Corporatist model of interest intermediation is used to analyze the relationship between the ACP and the EEC. Close examination of the bargaining in the negotiation of the Sugar Protocol reveals that there was in fact a structured hierarchy of decision making which, along with particular circumstances, facilitated an agreement favourable to ACP interests. However, as external and internal conditions have changed, ACP interests have become less important in an agreement which has become marginal to EEC interests. The thesis therefore finds that corporatism has only partial applicability with respect to the developments in the operation of the Protocol.
The study does not attempt to develop an ideal model which can be applied to the relationship. The aim is to examine the interplay of theory and evidence to discern the structure of the relationship and explore future developments. The evidence leads to the conclusion that despite formal structures through which the ACP can challenge the extant order, in fact they have little control over policy decisions. The uncertainties of the world and EEC sugar markets make it important for those ACP states which depend to a considerable extent on the export of sugar to begin to search for viable alternatives.
University of Southampton
1991
Dickson, Anna-Kumari
(1991)
A political history of the ACP-EEC sugar protocol.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
This thesis traces the development of the Sugar Protocol of the Lome Convention (1975) from its historical antecedents in British government sugar policy to its inclusion in the EEC sugar regime and the subsequent amendments to it. It looks firstly at the different interests which are involved in the operation of the Protocol, namely the British, European Economic Community (EEC) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP). Recognising that there is a potential conflict of interests in the operation of the Sugar Protocol the thesis examines how these interests are reconciled in the changing nature of the relationship.
The Corporatist model of interest intermediation is used to analyze the relationship between the ACP and the EEC. Close examination of the bargaining in the negotiation of the Sugar Protocol reveals that there was in fact a structured hierarchy of decision making which, along with particular circumstances, facilitated an agreement favourable to ACP interests. However, as external and internal conditions have changed, ACP interests have become less important in an agreement which has become marginal to EEC interests. The thesis therefore finds that corporatism has only partial applicability with respect to the developments in the operation of the Protocol.
The study does not attempt to develop an ideal model which can be applied to the relationship. The aim is to examine the interplay of theory and evidence to discern the structure of the relationship and explore future developments. The evidence leads to the conclusion that despite formal structures through which the ACP can challenge the extant order, in fact they have little control over policy decisions. The uncertainties of the world and EEC sugar markets make it important for those ACP states which depend to a considerable extent on the export of sugar to begin to search for viable alternatives.
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Published date: 1991
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Local EPrints ID: 460394
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/460394
PURE UUID: d410787b-b33e-4bfd-b9fb-deda6173d8fd
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:21
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 18:21
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Author:
Anna-Kumari Dickson
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