Interest Groups and Pro-Animal Rights Legislation

Abstract

The American states have demonstrated varying levels of support for animal rights legislation. The activities of interest groups, including pressures from competing groups, help to explain the presence or absence of ten pro-animal regulations and laws. This article analyzes and ranks each of the fifty states with regard to ten key areas of animal protection and welfare legislation. The analysis reveals that states with a more agricultural economic base are less likely to provide protection to animals. In addition, states with a more traditional political culture are less likely to have pro-animal legislation in place.

The seedlings of animal protection in Mexico : the interplay of regulation and social change

“…But they also adapted it to their context and structure of their own social system (Rogers, 2003), not losing the essence like the ban of bullfights and other cruel practices. This diffusion mechanism was also observed by Lutz and Lutz, where the creation of animal legislation in one place favors the creation of alike legislation in another (Lutz & Lutz, 2011).…”

“…The soft coercion mechanism was followed by geographic closeness or clustering given that spatial proximity allows for both easier interaction and influence (Strang & Soule, 1998) between governments. It was also observed by Lutz and Lutz that the creation of animal legislation in one place favors the creation of alike legislation in another (Lutz & Lutz, 2011).…”

“…The creation of animal legislation in one place favors the creation of similar legislation in others (Lutz & Lutz, 2011). In this type of 'innovative' social movement, the role of communication is significant and, nowadays, especially in the social media.…”

The (Dis)Connection Between Political Culture and External Efficacy

“…While much of the debate around political culture has been in terms of its measurement (Johnson, 1976;Lieske, 1993Lieske, , 2010Lieske, , 2012Sharkansky, 1969), there is ample evidence to suggest that Elazar's original conception does play a role in understanding state politics. Scholars have found that this formulation, or others that have been created that are related to it, helps in predicting numerous political policies and outcomes (for a small sample, see Boeckelman, 1991;Koven & Mausloff, 2002;Lutz & Lutz, 2011;Mead, 2004;Miller, 1991).…”

“…Still, Elazar's work has influenced a broad range of scholarship. For example, recent research has found that political culture affects such diverse policy areas as state budgeting (Koven & Mausolff, 2002) and pro-animal rights legislation (Lutz & Lutz, 2011).…”