Historical perspectives
An understanding for the temporal context we are embedded in, is only possible through an understanding of historical perspectives.
The historical perspectives of both the fair trade movement and coffee production in Brazil, is meant as a way of opening up the different facets and complexities of the main controversy.
The fair trade movement has developed from individual initiatives aimed at improving working conditions for the poor, to a major industry of certification, auditing and marketing. Throughout this development, many approaches to fair trade have been tried out by different actors. Some failed and some still exists today. An understanding of the diverse trajectories the movement have appeared in and the very different models of action that have been tried out, provides an understanding for the complexity of a movement, which goes way beyond the platforms of FLO and Fair Trade USA, the two main actors in the plantation grown coffee controversy.
Looking historically at coffee production in Brazil enables us to understand how deeply intertwined this product is in the formation of Brazil as a country - both economically, politically, socially and culturally. Through an understanding of the never-ending roller coaster that is the coffee industry, determined by extreme weather conditions, shifting regulations, unsteady price levels and so on, we can draw a line to today's articulation of the coffee industry in Brazil, mainly situated around topics of financial character.
The historical perspectives of both the fair trade movement and coffee production in Brazil, is meant as a way of opening up the different facets and complexities of the main controversy.
The fair trade movement has developed from individual initiatives aimed at improving working conditions for the poor, to a major industry of certification, auditing and marketing. Throughout this development, many approaches to fair trade have been tried out by different actors. Some failed and some still exists today. An understanding of the diverse trajectories the movement have appeared in and the very different models of action that have been tried out, provides an understanding for the complexity of a movement, which goes way beyond the platforms of FLO and Fair Trade USA, the two main actors in the plantation grown coffee controversy.
Looking historically at coffee production in Brazil enables us to understand how deeply intertwined this product is in the formation of Brazil as a country - both economically, politically, socially and culturally. Through an understanding of the never-ending roller coaster that is the coffee industry, determined by extreme weather conditions, shifting regulations, unsteady price levels and so on, we can draw a line to today's articulation of the coffee industry in Brazil, mainly situated around topics of financial character.