FAIR TRADE: A MODEL FOR INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION AMONG CO-OPERATIVES?

Title: FAIR TRADE: A MODEL FOR INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION AMONG CO-OPERATIVES?
By: Darryl Reed Erbin Crowell
Summary:

This chapter examines whether Fair Trade can provide an appropriate model for promoting co-operation among co-operatives on an international level. The chapter proceeds in the following manner. First, a short introduction to the origins and organization of Fair Trade is provided. The next section examines the role of co-operatives and the compatibility of co-operativism with the movement. Following upon this, there is a brief exposition of forms of participation by corporations in Fair Trade. The fourth section investigates how corporations engage with co-operatives and other social economy actors within the system. It does this by drawing upon value chain analysis to distinguish, based upon the relative roles of corporations and social economy actors, four different variants of the Fair Trade value chain. The fifth section argues that, insofar as only two of the four variants of the value chain are compatible with Fair Trade values and principles, Fair Trade activity should be restricted to these variants of the value chain. Moreover, it contends that as only these two variants of the value chain are consistent with co-operative values and principles, only they can serve as a model for actualization of the principle of co-operation among co-operatives. The concluding section exposits some of the advantages and potentials of the model, as well as suggesting some of its limitations and some of the challenges involved in implementation.

TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:

Darryl Reed Erbin Crowell 2009 FAIR TRADE: A MODEL FOR INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION AMONG CO-OPERATIVES? Co-Operatives in a Global Economy: The Challenges of Co-Operation Across Borders 141-177

Language: English
Type: Book Chapter
Academic Publication: Yes
Other Info:

1443801895