International Political Economy and Tobacco Control Policies: A Case Study of European Union, France and Germany

Abstract

Tobacco control is one of the most contentious political-economic issues at present. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of 2003 was crafted to be a global mechanism for tobacco con­trol. However, the degree of tobacco control differs greatly among countries. FCTC has faced strong resistance because tobacco markets are globalized and highly profitable. This study employed global health governance (GHG) as an analytical framework and argued that the FCTC was not sufficient as an effective tobacco control instrument. It required a regional mechanism such as the European Union as well as national level actors, both state and non-state, for effective tobacco control.

This research study used the European Union, France, and Germany as case studies. Findings show that France had strict tobacco control measures because political actors, non-governmental organizations, and medical personnel had strong influences on shaping tobacco control policy and took stance against transnational tobacco companies and retailers. In contrast, Germany encountered significant delays in developing effective tobacco control policies because of both the ignorance of political actors, and the weakness of the anti-tobacco civil society network. Moreover, powerful and profitable international and national tobacco companies stood firm against Germany’s tobacco control policies. This research study discovered that the European Union performed a significant role in harmonizing member states’ tobac­co control policies, and ushered them in developing their own tobacco control policy measures, espe­cially in the case of Germany. Tax measures had a positive impact on people’s health. They helped reduce the number of deaths from tobacco consumption, as well as reduce tobacco consumption rates among smokers. However, tax harmonization measures respected national jurisdiction and minimized economic impacts. Tobacco tax still remained a national source of income. This research study proposes that ASEAN and its member countries adopt the EU’s harmonization of tobacco-related legislations in order to develop ASEAN’s tobacco control mechanisms and to minimize the gap between members’ tobacco control policies.