This project investigates the political economy of farmers’ resistance to green transition policies in the Baltic Sea Region, with a comparative focus on Poland and Sweden. These countries exemplify contrasting yet interconnected patterns of political mobilization against EU agricultural policies aimed at climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability. While Poland has a history of strong farmer protests, often aligned with right-wing populist movements, Sweden has witnessed more restrained opposition, primarily through lobbying and political discourse.
The study aims to analyze how farmers’ organizations, populist parties, and socio-technical regimes interact to shape resistance at sub-national, national, and EU levels. By integrating insights from Critical Agrarian Studies and Socio-Technical Transition theory, the project will explore both material and ideological drivers of opposition.
Methodologically, the research employs a comparative case study approach, including fieldwork in Poland and Sweden, interviews with key stakeholders, document analysis, and stakeholder engagement through workshops. The findings will contribute to understanding the structural and discursive mechanisms behind farmers’ resistance, offering policy-relevant insights into mitigating opposition to ecological transitions.