+ Follow

Uniting Research, Policy and Practice in Fair Trade, Cardiff (April 2009)

by Matthew Anderson

342 views

I have two main objectives for this presentation firstly to briefly outline some of the main findings of my recently submitted PhD thesis: ‘The British Fair Trade Movement, 1960 to 2000: a new form of global citizenship? And secondly, to raise some questions that may suggest areas for further research.

This project was based on archive research of all the main organisations involved in developing Fair Trade, both as a campaign tool and as a trading model, including: The Co-operative and ICA, TUC, Oxfam, Christian Aid, CAFOD, Campaign Coffee, Anti-Apartheid Movement, New Consumer, Ethical Consumer Research Association, Traidcraft, Twin Trading and the Fairtrade Foundation.

Accessibility

View text version

Upload Details

Uploaded via SlideShare as Microsoft PowerPoint

Usage Rights

File a copyright complaint

1 Embed 1

http://www.linkedin.com

Statistics

Likes: 0
Downloads: 1
Comments: 0
Embed Views: 1
Views on SlideShare: 341
Total Views: 342

Uniting Research, Policy and Practice in Fair Trade, Cardiff (April 2009) Presentation Transcript

Uniting Research, Policy and Practice in Fair Trade BRASS, Cardiff (April 2009) Matthew Anderson www.researchfairtrade.com From the Margins to the Mainstream: Plotting the Trajectory of Fair Trade in Britain

Outline

Networking for Fair Trade

Methodology and Sources

Chronology: Challenging the Established Historical Framework

Limits of Consumer Choice?

‘ Choice-editing’

- Council Procurement

- Major Switches to Fairtrade

‘ Networks are based on cooperation rather than competition, and have the advantage that they allow for the independence of all the various units gathered together in the network. But they don’t happen spontaneously. There have to be networkers.’ Michael Barratt Brown, 'Who Cares About Fair Trade?', Report of Conference on Development, Trade and Cooperation, 4 September 1988, Conway Hall, London (Published by TWIN, December 1988), p.3. Networking for Fair Trade

Methodology and Sources

Developing an Online Database http://www.dango.bham.ac.uk/

Chronology: Challenging the Established Historical Framework Charities, such as Oxfam, started selling crafts made by refugees ATOs , such as Traidcraft, encourage direct trade with producers avoiding middlemen Naturally sympathetic retailers, such as the Co-op, promote FT to consumers Solidifying growth in the mainstream Market entry of more traditional players 1 st wave 1940s, 1950s 2 nd wave 1970s, 1980s 3 rd wave 1990s 4 th wave Late 1990s+

Limits of Consumer Choice? ‘ Fair Trade is entirely a consumer choice model, it operates within the larger free trade model of unregulated international commerce.’ A. Nicholls & C. Opal, Fair Trade: Market Driven Ethical Consumption , (London: Sage Publications, 2004), p. 31.

‘ Choice-editing’ - Council Procurement Oliver Le Brun, Director of TWIN and Twin Trading, Bridges Not Fences: Report of the Third World Trade and Technology Conference, (London Feb 1985), p.7. ‘ If we want to develop more direct and permanent trading links between the south and the north we have to open new opportunities for the distribution of Third World products. We have to explore the social market: the supply departments of local authorities, their purchasing associations and civic catering, universities, polytechnics, schools, social services, hospitals, trade unions, labour clubs etc.’

‘ Choice-editing’ - Major Switches to Fairtrade ‘ The public has taken Fairtrade to its heart, and so we’re delighted that they will soon be able to get 100% Fairtrade certified espresso drinks in Starbucks, from high streets to train stations and workplaces.’ Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation (26 November 2008) ‘ The Fairtrade Foundation set out an ambitious strategy last year to double its positive impact for producers by 2012.. It is precisely this kind of big commitment by a major player such as Cadbury that could make it possible to achieve these goals.’ Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation (4 March 2009)