ANIMAL PROTECTION AND LEGISLATORS IN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES

In: The journal of legislative studies, Volume 5, Issue 2, p. 92-114

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE CONSIDERS THE REACTION OF LEGISLATORS TO THE EMERGENCE OF ANIMAL PROTECTION AS A POLITICAL ISSUE. A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF LEGISLATIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS IN THE LATE 1980S AND EARLY 1990S REVEALS THAT THE GROWING SOCIETAL CONCERN FOR ANIMALS HAS PERMEATED INTO THE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF BRITAIN AND THE US. EXAMINING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE LEGISLATORS SUGGESTS, MOREOVER, THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT VARIABLE IS PARTY LABEL, WITH CONCERN FOR ANIMALS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH PARTIES OF THE CENTER-LEFT. IT IS FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THERE ARE GOOD REASONS TO SUPPOSE THAT THIS ASSOCIATION IS NO ACCIDENT AND THAT IDEOLOGICALLY, THERE IS A FIT BETWEEN ANIMAL PROTECTION AND THE IDEALS OF THE LEFT.