Coffee Activism and the Politics of Fair Trade and Ethical Consumption in the Global North

ICTs and ethical consumption: The political and market futures of fair trade

“…Fair trade has a long-standing presence in the UK, historically involving a variety of initiatives, structures and strategies which underpin its current operations accordingly (Lekakis, 2013). This paper argues that technological developments do not have a deep-seated impact on the campaigning or consuming side of this cause.…”

“…The history of fair trade demonstrates a dense past where various factors have contributed in the growth of the market and movement (cf. Lekakis, 2013). The historical evolution of the movement denotes its endurance in time; its durability is evident in the fact that it grew from charity-based niche into market-based mainstream.…”

“…The exploration which follows is part of a broader research project conducted between -2010(Lekakis, 2013. In order to understand the effectiveness of ICTs in engaging and mobilising citizens in the cause, the analysis is informed by the perspectives of ethically consuming citizens and fair trade activists.…”

“…While the online efforts for mobilisation have not been prominent, offline mobilisation is more purposeful. Social spaces, spaces of worship and spaces of education are more likely to mobilise and to further engage citizens in what I elsewhere term coffee activism (Lekakis, 2013). The relationship between faith groups and the fair trade movement has been particularly significant, as it attaches its strong moral position to the ethics of consumption which complies with the dominant fair trade narrative.…”

“Fairtradization”: a performative perspective on fair trade markets and the role of retail settings in their enactment

“…There is a widespread academic consensus that this situation represents the "mainstreaming" of fair trade. In contrast to the 1960s and the 1970s, when the fair trade movement was limited to the operations of alternative trade organizations (ATOs), in the last two decades there has been a proliferation of fair trade products in "conventional" market settings (Doherty et al 2013;Goodman 2010;Lekakis 2012Lekakis , 2013Low and Davenport 2005; 2006; Nicholls and Opal 2005;Moore 2004;Raynolds 2009;Taylor 2005).…”