Transforming or Reproducing Conventional Socioeconomic Relations? Introducing a Regulationist Framework for the Assessment of Fairtrade

Social & Cultural Geography

2019

Globally, Fairtrade practices its ethic of trade justice and governs its multiple stakeholders through a universalising set of regulations. However, this essentialises what are, in reality, disparate, dynamic and contextual experiences. Engaging with Argentinean wine and wine grape producers, alongside European regulators, highlights the inherent tensions to this system with Fairtrade's global efforts being experienced as injustices at the producer level. This paper argues that overcoming the disconnect between 'justice-as-universal' and 'care-as-particular' is essential; combining these ethics will make Fairtrade's governance more responsive to the place-based realities of how it is actually experienced and lived. The institutionalisation of Fairtrade has precluded alternative ideas of thinking or doing trade justice and so more inclusive dialogues are needed to ensure all stakeholders can participate. Fairtrade needs to bridge its scales of operation through a decentralised governance structure to allow for fluid and direct discussions and actions over its rhetoric, practices and impacts. This is an important step towards actualising everyday care-full trade justice.

Section: Contextualising Fairtrade Wine In Argentinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contextualising Fairtrade Wine In Argentinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contextualising Fairtrade Wine In Argentinamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Governing Fairtrade: ethics of care and justice in the Argentinean wine industry

Social & Cultural Geography

2019

“…This has arguably been exacerbated in mainstreamed Fairtrade as it has become decontextualised, disconnected from its roots in specific local contexts (Hughes et al., ; Naylor, ). In order to conceptualise Fairtrade's geographies and asymmetries, we need to understand the local qualifications that emerge as Fairtrade moves from the abstract to the concrete (Staricco, ) and the localised impacts on particular producer communities (Hughes et al., ). The scales within GPNs are inseparable, with both horizontal and vertical power relations shaping Fairtrade's perpetual dynamism (Hughes et al., ); despite its globalising strategies, Fairtrade practices always impact locally.…”

Section: The Global Fairtrade Production Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asymmetries and opportunities: Power and inequality in Fairtrade wine global production networks

2018

Area

Fairtrade is changing. The hegemonic certified system, governed by Fairtrade International, has seen some high-profile withdrawals by major processors and retailers in recent months, which is leading to both proponents and critics questioning who, and what, the system is for. While the certified system has seen increasing conventionalisation, there remains at its core a mission to make trade fair, empower those marginalised in global trade and foster sustainable livelihoods. Taking a global production network (GPN) framework supports a critical exploration of the market, social and political asymmetries of this international system of production and distribution. Drawing on empirical evidence from the wine industry, this paper uses a production-space perspective to critically reflect on some of the key relations within Fairtrade GPNs. While there are many positive impacts, particularly in social development, producers have experienced a conventionalisation of supply chains, a lack of contextual responsiveness and limited engagement with the global system. These indicate a continuation of power asymmetries that are intersecting, multiscalar and evolving. Although these are from wine industry case studies, anecdotal evidence suggests that they are not uncommon experiences and even a hint of unfair, disempowering and unsustainable trading practices negatively impacts both these producers' livelihoods and the reputation of the Fairtrade system as a whole. Nonetheless, there remains significant producer buy-in indicating that the ideals of Fairtrade retain currency. This therefore presents a critical opportunity for Fairtrade to actively address the market, social and political inequalities that persist in its GPNs and re-establish itself as a leader in the ethical marketplace.

“…Fairtrade wine producer (Herman, 2010, Herman, 2012, McEwan and Bek, 2009, Moseley, 2008, although recent work by Staricco (2015Staricco ( , 2016Staricco ( , 2017b) is highlighting the practices and experiences of certified agrochemical abuse with small producers increasingly excluded (Aguayo, 2015). Despite Chile s su ess i agro-exports more broadly (Aguayo and Latta, 2015), most wine grape producers are small-scale (Felzensztein, 2011) and finding it increasingly hard to compete in an industry monopolised by large multinationals; making a living is made more difficult by low and volatile grape prices.…”

Section: Research Context: Fairtrade Wine In Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

Assembling Fairtrade: Practices of progress and conventionalization in the Chilean wine industry

2018

Environ Plan A

The global Fairtrade system is multiple, heterogenous and dynamic. The processes that underlie its contextual formations are key, and this paper analyses these through bringing together assemblage thinking and social practices to discuss Fairtrade in the Chilean wine industry. Local level contestations and appropriation highlight the different forms Fairtrade takes at the micro-scale, which maintain a contextual heterogeneity without challenging the overall coherence of the Fairtrade economy. Power relations are uneven and the important role of local and international asse lage o e te s i atal si g a d curtailing possibilities for Fairtrade practices is highlighted. These operate within and across scales, interacting, and varyingly integrated, with other similarly multiscalar assemblages to support or disrupt particular stabilised compositions. Fairtrade emerges as simultaneously globally coherent and locally fragmented, a system in constant motion between alternative and conventional relations and practices. To challenge creeping conventionalisation, the paper concludes that maintaining space for unpredictability and creativity is critical to Fai t ade s futu e th ough aki g spa e fo e ha i g oppo tu ities a d alternatives to take flight.