The Globalization and Theories of the State of the Agricultural and Food Sector
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The Globalization and Theories of the State of the Agricultural and Food Sector Alessandro Bonanno Introduction The paper investigates the theoretical dislocation between the domestic oriented character of theories of the State and the transnati011al characteroftheories Recenttransfonnations in the agricultural and of socio-economic development. Employing the case food sector have influenced a number of rural of the food and agricultura1 sector, it is argued that the sociologists to argue the emergence of a literature in thi~ area has emphasized the tranmational transnational system of agricultural and food dimension ofcapita.I accumulation and the proc.css of production (Bonanno ct al., 1990, Campbell, by-passing Slale authority at the national level. This 1990; Friedland, 1988; Friedland et al. 1991; situation mandates a re-evaluation of State theories Friedmann and McMichacl, 1989; McMichael in regard to the international dimension of current and Myhre, 1991). In these analyses center stage processes of capital accumulation. Furlhennore, the is occupied by the role of the State vis-a-vis new present analysis suggests panems of "contradictory trends in the economic and political spheres. convergence "in which expansion at the tranmational Epistemologically and withsomeex:ceptions (e.g. level of State action is demanded by transnational corporations and subordinate classes alike. This Campbell, 1990), the theoretical underpinnings demand, however, is contradictory, as it finds its of these works rest upon Marxian interpretations limits in the IIansnational bourgeoisie's desire to of societal development and the relationship avoid State action. Politically, as a resuh of this between the economy and superstructuraJOl situation the locus of emancipatory social action elements in society. The centrality of the Marxian should be increasingly transferred to the international theoretical construction in regard to these issues M~< is made evident by the long standing attention paid by Marxian scholars to the role of the State in society and by the number of Marx.ian studies Alessandro Bonanno is Assistant Professor of analyzing the phenomena of multinationalization Rura1 Sociology at the University of Missouri and transnationalization(2> of the food and Columbia, USA. He has researched among other agricultural system. Indeed, the problematics of topics, the structure of agriculture, regional and multinationalization of food and agricultural international development, aging and the State. He is production and its later transnational ization have the author of numerous journal articles and books, been developed predominantly within the among then Small Farms (1987) Sociology or Marx.ian debate in the sociology of agriculture<3l. Agriculture (l989) Agrarian Policies and Agricultural Systems(l990). He rccived his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University ofKenrucky, USA. (*) I would like to e:\tend my appreciation to Gaiy Green, Rill Friedland, Plul McMichael and Doog Constance fortheircomments on earlier versions of this manuscript lnternallonal Journal ofSodolOI)' of Agriculture and Food I Revisla Internacional de SocioJoala sobre AgrkuJtura 1 Alhm:ntosl Vol.111991 15 ISSN: 0798-1759 This journal is blind refereed. Alessandro Bonanno The present study would like to contribute to inadequate. Furthermore, itis maintained that the the Marxian scholarship in the sociology of mediation ofthe various fractions ofcapital carried agriculture and sociology ofthe State by analyzing on by the State at the domestic level is unresolved the theoretical implications that the in the international arena. Finally, it is pointed transnationalization of the agricultural and food out that subordinate classes find their power in sector has in regard to the role of the State. The society reduced due to the dislocation between paper opens with a brief review of the major State power and economic activities. The theories of the State: the "instrumentalist," cone! uding portion of the paper illustrates patterns "relative autonomy" and the "mixed approach." of "contradictory convergence" in which In the following section the domestic dimension expansion of the transnational level of State of the relationship between the polity and the action is demanded by transnational corporations economy in Marxian analyses is illustrated. and subordinate classes alike. This demand is Particular attention is paid to the domestic contradictory, as it finds its limits in the dimension of the original work of Marx. In this transnational bourgeoisie's desire to avoid State respect, it is argued that the stage of capitalist action. Political]y, as a result of this situation the development achieved in the middle of the last locus of emancipatory social action should be century, the effort to illustrate the laws ofcapitalist increasing! y transferred to the international arena. development and the emphasis placed on the British case did not allow Marx to transcend the Theories of the State in the domestic dimension of capitalist development. Sociological Literature Furthermore, it is maintained that though Marxian theories of colonialism and imperialism were The role of the State in society has been a developed in the decades following Marx's death, central theme of sociological debate in recent they reflected the multinational development of years (Block, l 980, Domhoff, l 979; Hooks, 1990; capital inamannerwhichemphasized the struggle Offe, 1985, Poulantzas, 1978; Prechel, 1990; of national capitalist States and national capitals Quadagno, 1990). Originally formulated in the to control the international arena. In this context context of political sociology. Marxist sociology the domestic oriented dimension of the capitalist and the sociology of complex organizations, State was maintained. Finally, a discussion on theories of the State have been increasingly the national cultural dimension that the employed to address issues in the area ofsociology reproduction of capitalist rule mandates is also ofagriculture (Bonanno, 1987a, 1987b; Friedland, undertaken. 1988; 1983; Friedmann and McMichael, 1989; In the third section the transnationalization of Mc Michael and Myhre, 1991; Green, 1987; the economic sphere is briefly illustrated, while Gilbert and Howe, 1988). In this debate the State the fourth section of the paper reviews some of has been identified as a) an institution the recent literature on transnationalization and instrumentally controlled by the ruling class; b) its relationship to State action. Focusing on the anentitycndowed with relative autonomy; and c) literature on the State and on that of an institution in which the instrumental dimension transnationalization, the next section provides a and the autonomous dimension are both contained discussion of the dislocation between the global in the State's historical role. dimension of capital accumulation and the The instrumentalist account (Domhoff, 1978) domestic dimension of State action. It is argued views the State in capitalism as either "an that the theoretical underpinnings of current instrument for promoting the common interests theories of the State are becoming increasingly of the ruling (capitalist) class" (Offe and Ronge, 16 International Journal ofSodology or A11rkultuuand Food I R.,vlm, lnlernaclonal de Socloloaf• oobre A11rlcultura y Alhnenloll Vol. I I U91 ISSN: 0798-1759 This journal is blind refereed. TIJE GWBALIZATION AND THEORIES OF THE STATE 1979:346) or "a committee of the ruling class structure) (Block, 1980; 1977; Poulantzas, 1978, directly manipulated by the members of this Offe and Range, 1979). class" (Camoy, 1984:214). In essence it is argued that the State reproduces Two types of instrumental theories have class relations not because one class or fraction of emerged. The first calls for an identity between class directly controls it, but because the State is the ruling class and the State officialdom interested in reproducing "the rules and social (Miliband, 1969; 1970; Domhoff, 1979; 1967). relationships that arc presupposed by the class In this case, State bureaucrats tend to belong to rule of the capitalist class" (Offe and Ronge, the same class or classes that dominate society 1979:346). The "instrumentalist" and "relative and are bound to it by common educational autonomy" theories have generally been backgrounds, friends, and family relations. employed in exclusive tenns (for the debate in Though it is possible for members of other classes sociology of agriculture sec Bonanno, 1987a; to enter the upper class, it is the latter which 1987b; Green, 1987, 1989). In other words, it has controls the political apparatus. The second been maintained that the two camps are based on theory, which has also been labeled "State different assumptions. Indeed, in the illustration Monopoly Capital Theory", indicates that the of the instrumentalist and relative autonomy monopolistic-corporate fractions of the lheories attention has been paid to the relatively bourgeoisie exercise direct control over the State diverse theoretical origins of the two positions. (O'Connor, 1973; 1974). Essentially, it is Offer and Ronge (1979:345-347), for instance, maintained that the control that monopolistic while recognizing the Marxian roots of both corporate class fractions exercise over the positions, point out that the "instrumentalist" economy entails, almost automatically, control position is rooted in some passages of the over the State. Manifesto, while the "relative autonomy" The theoretical and empirical