Nielsen, Kristoffer Merrild

Schneekloth, Själla

Schrøder-Knudsen, Tabitha

Wissing, Liv

This project aims to investigate the extent to which the vision of Fair Trade can be realised for coffee farmers and workers in Nicaragua. This is done through a conceptualisation of Nicaragua historically and in relation to the development of international trade relations. Through a critical framework, using Marxist, Gramscian and Neo-Gramscian theories, the unequal power structures that are inherent in this popular form of social change are explored. These structures place contemporary Nicaragua in a precarious position within an oppressing system of international relations; mainly due to persistent hegemonic relations of production, and continuing, historically-grounded processes of exploitation. These dynamics are further investigated through a fieldwork which explores and supports this perspective. Furthermore, a definition from a Fair Trade Charter is analysed in the tradition of Critical Discourse Analysis, revealing the elements within the text that serve to position Fair Trade as a tool of good intent requiring little deliberative intervention by the Global North. Lastly, and in relation to these points, the project concludes that Fair Trade can be improved as a means to support the wellbeing of poor farming communities but, in its current state, it is not sufficient to address the structural inequalities of the trading system in which it is embedded. Fair Trade is argued to be a continuation of historical processes of exploitation.This project aims to investigate the extent to which the vision of Fair Trade can be realised for coffee farmers and workers in Nicaragua. This is done through a conceptualisation of Nicaragua historically and in relation to the development of international trade relations. Through a critical framework, using Marxist, Gramscian and Neo-Gramscian theories, the unequal power structures that are inherent in this popular form of social change are explored. These structures place contemporary Nicaragua in a precarious position within an oppressing system of international relations; mainly due to persistent hegemonic relations of production, and continuing, historically-grounded processes of exploitation. These dynamics are further investigated through a fieldwork which explores and supports this perspective. Furthermore, a definition from a Fair Trade Charter is analysed in the tradition of Critical Discourse Analysis, revealing the elements within the text that serve to position Fair Trade as a tool of good intent requiring little deliberative intervention by the Global North. Lastly, and in relation to these points, the project concludes that Fair Trade can be improved as a means to support the wellbeing of poor farming communities but, in its current state, it is not sufficient to address the structural inequalities of the trading system in which it is embedded. Fair Trade is argued to be a continuation of historical processes of exploitation

Roskilde Universitet

Is Fair Trade Fair? A textual analysis. To what extent is the vision of Fair Trade realised for coffee farmers and workers in Nicaragua?: To what extent is the vision of Fair Trade realised for coffee farmers and workers in Nicaragua?

Is Fair Trade Fair? A textual analysis. To what extent is the vision of Fair Trade realised for coffee farmers and workers in Nicaragua?: To what extent is the vision of Fair Trade realised for coffee farmers and workers in Nicaragua?

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Roskilde Universitet