Agricultural politics and policy retains a central place in the politics of advanced industrial societies. Governments in most countries continue to subsidize agricultural production and regulate markets for farm commodities. The growth of concern about the environmental impact of agriculture has added a new dimension to the sector's politics. Tensions between the US and the EU over the protection of agriculture remain a major feature. New Zealand offers an interesting example of an experiment with deregulated and liberalized agriculture, while Japanese agriculture continues to be highly...