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The influence of farmers on public policy has often been analysed by means of a pressure‐group paradigm. Here the paradigm is integrated into a more general theoretical framework with focus on the content of agricultural policy. Differences in agricultural policies are first of all explained by the consensus‐making capacity of the political process. Crucial here is the agricultural profile of the Social Democratic parties, and how far the cost of increasing farm income impinges on the interest of other social groups.

THE INFLUENCE OF FARMERS ON PUBLIC POLICY HAS OFTEN BEEN ANALYSED BY MEANS OF A PRESSUREGROUP PARADIGM. HERE THE PARADIGM IS INTEGRATED INTO A MORE GENERAL THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK WITH FOCUS ON THE CONTENT OF AGRICULTURAL POLICY. DIFFERENCES IN AGRICULTURAL POLICIES ARE FIRST OF ALL EXPLAINED BY THE CONSENSUS-MAKING CAPACITY OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS. CRUCIAL HERE IS THE AGRICULTURAL PROFILE OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES, AND HOW FAR THE COST OF INCREASING FARM INCOME IMPINGES ON THE INTEREST OF OTHER SOCIAL GROUPS.

A FEELING COULD EXIT AMONG CONSERVATIVE BACKBENCHERS THAT THEY HAD NO MORE UTILITY OR SELF-RESPECT THAN MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY (OR ANY OTHER CONFECTED, NON-LEGISLATING DUMA). IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION OR A SERIOUS CONTRIBUTION. THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPEAKING ARE FEWER THAN THOSE OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS AND A FRACTION OF THOSE AFFORDED TO MEMBERS OF THE LIBERAL AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES. PR STRIKES BACK AS IT WERE!

Acknowledgements -- Contents -- 1 The Construction of China's State System -- 1.1 Mao Zedong: A State System for New China -- 1.2 Mao Zedong: Major System Innovations -- 1.3 Mao Zedong: Mistakes of the Later Years -- 1.4 Deng Xiaoping: Reconstruction of the Basic Party System, and the State Selection of 'Three Paths' After the Cultural Revolution -- 1.5 Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao: Consolidating and Improving the Basic Socialist System -- 1.6 Summary: China's Path Versus the Western Way -- 2 The Third Plenary Session of the Eighteenth Central Committee of the C.P.C.-A New Milestone in China's Reform -- 2.1 The Third Plenary Session-A Milestone in China's Reform (11th-18th) -- 2.2 High Praise for China's Reform, and a Summary of Important Experiences -- 2.3 The Guiding Ideology of the Decision and the Overall Goal of Comprehensively Deepening Reform -- 2.4 Construction and Reform of a 'Five in One' System -- 2.5 Summary: Raising Confidence in the System and Comprehensively Deepening Reform -- 3 Modernization of State Governance -- 3.1 Modernization of the State -- 3.2 Modernization of State Governance -- 3.3 Modernization of the State Governance's Capacities -- 3.4 Modernization of the State Governance System -- 3.5 Non-western Modernization of China's State Governance -- 3.6 Summary: Major Tasks for the Future -- 4 The Relationship Between the Government and the Market -- 4.1 A Significant Relationship and a Prominent Contradiction -- 4.2 Understanding the History -- 4.3 More Respect for Market Rule -- 4.4 Accelerating Government Transformation -- 4.5 Summary: Two Hands Are Always Better Than One -- 5 The Relationship Between the State-Owned and Private Economies -- 5.1 Evolution of the Relationship -- 5.2 State-Owned and Private: A Dual System -- 5.3 The Future of China's Mixed Economy -- 5.4 Summary: Two Legs Are Better Than One

The article considers the significance of the commitment of the state and its factors and forces in preventing the perpetrators of terrorism to manifest themselves in a violent way. The author takes as a starting point the fact that terrorist collectivities make great efforts to take their primary victim (state) by surprise. The response of the state should result in the efficient protection from this danger. The author considers subjective and objective limitations the anti-terrorist forces of the state are facing in the protection of the state from the terrorist surprise. This, among other things, results in porosity of the anti-terrorist prevention in some of its aspects. The volume and character of possible detrimental effects on the security of the state for the occasional porosity of the anti-terrorist prevention is treated within a separate chapter.

The economic crisis has given rise to significant challenges to the welfare state. Given that welfare expenses account for a large proportion of all state spending in the member countries of the European Union, reducing government spending means cutting welfare measures. Yet social protection, in particular unemployment insurance benefits and minimum income support, has significantly softened the impact of the crisis for millions of individuals. The global recession calls into question the financial viability of current programmes, and the crisis is being used by some as an opportunity to roll back the welfare state permanently. The present Forum discusses challenges to and opportunities for the welfare state after the crisis.