Legitimitet i påverkansarbete : Medlemmarnas upplevelser av LRF:s lobbyverksamhet i Bryssel inför den gemensamma jordbrukspolitiken efter 2020

Sammanfattning

This thesis has explored how members, through elected representatives in the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF), perceive the legitimacy of the organization's lobbying activities concerning the reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP post-2020). The study is based on six qualitative interviews and uses a theoretical framework combining the theory of organized interests with legitimacy theory, operationalized through input, throughput, and output dimensions. The results indicate that members experience a relatively high degree of legitimacy in LRF’s work, but this perception varies across dimensions. Input legitimacy, which relates to participation and influence, is perceived as limited and largely delegated through trust in the organization’s structure. Throughput legitimacy is the strongest, members have access to formal communication and reporting, even if some content is perceived as technical and difficult to engage with. Output legitimacy is primarily based on symbolic representation and few respondents can cite specific policy outcomes, but LRF’s presence in Brussels is valued as strategically important. The analysis suggests that legitimacy in this context is less about measurable influence or results, and more about structural trust and the perceived competence of the organization. This reflects key findings in research on organized interests, where professional representation can maintain legitimacy despite weak direct member engagement. Ultimately, the thesis concludes that while LRF’s legitimacy is broadly upheld, it is unevenly distributed and depends on continued trust. For longterm legitimacy, the organization may benefit from more inclusive member dialogue and improved feedback mechanisms. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how legitimacy is experienced from within interest organizations operating in complex, transnational political systems