Emerald | Social Enterprise Journal | Table of Contents

Connecting producers and consumers through fair and sustainable value chains

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Bob Doherty, Benjamin Huybrechts) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Not available.

Fair Trade and European Public Procurement: Legal Principles and Governance Dynamics

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Eleanor Fisher, Sergei Corbalan) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The article examines principles of Fair Trade in public procurement in Europe, focusing on legal dimensions related to the European Public Procurement Directives.Design/methodology/approach - The article situates public procurement of Fair Trade products in relation to the rise of non-state regulatory initiatives, highlighting how they have entered into new governance dynamics in the public sector and play a part in changing practices in sustainable procurement. A review of legal position on Fair Trade in procurement law is informed by academic research and campaigning experience from the Fair Trade Advocacy Office.Findings - Key findings are that the introduction of Fair Trade products into European public procurement has been marked by legal ambiguity, having developed outside comprehensive policy or legal guidelines. Following a 2012 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union, it is suggested that the legal position for Fair Trade in procurement has become clearer, and that forthcoming change to the Public Procurement Directives may facilitate the uptake of fair trade products by public authorities. However potential for future expansion of the public sector ‘market’ for Fair Trade is approached with caution: purchasing Fair Trade products as a marker of sustainability, which started to be embedded within procurement practice in the 2000s, is challenged by current European public austerity measures.Research limitations/implications - Suggestions for future research include the need for systematic cross-institutional and multi-country comparison of the legal and governance dimensions of procurement practice with regard to Fair Trade.Practical implications - A clarification of current state-of-play with regard to legal aspects of fair trade in public procurement of utility for policy and advocacy discussion.Originality/value - The article provides needed elaboration on an under researched topic area of value to academia and policy makers.

Fair trade narratives and political dynamics

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Anne Tallontire, Valerie Nelson) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The recent departure of Fair Trade USA from Fairtrade International is the most seismic event in the fair trade movement in past decade. This paper analyses recent dynamics between and within multiple fair trade strands and the attendant changes in vision and approach. Design/methodology/approach - We use and develop a framework focusing on the relationship between business and development to analyse the dominant narratives and practices of each different strand of fair trade. To unpack the various fair trade narratives we have conducted a narrative analysis of policy documents and online debates in the wake of the split in the fair trade movement and we draw upon recent impact studies. Findings - The politicising narrative in fair trade i) stresses governance and voice based on clear structures of representation within the standards body, ii) recognizes the value of development inputs that do not focus solely on technical and quality development, but lead to organisational advocacy and representational capacity of producer organisations and the regional networks. In contrast ‘pragmatism’ focuses more on economic empowerment and using the market to drive change, an approach that is more is gaining greater traction with the split of FTUSA from FLO. Practical implications - The analysis raises implications with regards to how impact analysis captures both the pragmatic and politicising narratives.Originality/value - Its originality lies in its novel use of narrative analysis and its early analysis of the shifting dynamics within fair trade precipitated by the departure of FTUSA.

What Does it Mean To Do Fair Trade? Ontology, praxis, and the ‘Fair for Life’ certification system

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Alastair Smith) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The article discusses dynamics of interpretation concerned with what it means to do fair trade. Moving beyond the tendency to see heterogeneous practices as parallel interpretations of a separate concept – usually defined with reference to the statement by F.I.N.E – the paper seeks to provide an ontological account of the subject by drawing on theories of language, and John Searle’s notion of "institutional facts". In seeking to establish the value of interpreting discourse and practice as mutually constitutive of the fair trade concept itself, the paper applies this alternative theoretical framework to both an historical account of fair trade movement and critical analysis of a new alternative certification programme: Fair for Life. Overall, analysis compliments political economy explanations for alternative fair trade approaches with a deeper theorisation of how such competition plays out in linguistic constructions and the wider understanding of the fair trade concept itself: a dynamic that, it is argued, will play a significant role in dictating the nature and therefore impact of fair trade governance, both now and in the future.Design/methodology/approach - Grounded in an ideational ontology, the paper provides a theoretical framework concerned with the contestation of meaning. Analysis applies this framework through a heuristic reading of 1) fair trade’s history, drawing on secondary literature, documents and primary qualitative research; and 2) the discursive construction of Fair for Life – a new programme seeking to negotiate the ‘constitutive rules’ of fair trade.Findings - The article identifies that the history of fair trade and its current competitive dynamics are constituted by a negotiation and contestation of the constitutive rules that set the parameters of the fair trade concept.Research limitations/implications - The paper compliments political economy analysis of socially constructed governance such as fair trade, and adds value to academic analysis by exposing important, yet previously unconsidered, micro-politics of language and practice. The description and initial analysis of ‘Fair for Life’ opens a new area of empirical interest for scholars of fair trade and sustainability governance.Practical implications - Analysis highlighting the important implication of discourse and practice for the very definition of fair trade, offers practitioners important insights into little considered implication of their practices and their representations in language.Originality/value - The article compliments political economy analysis by demonstrating the value of an ideationally grounded analysis of fair trade and similar socially constructed governance systems.

From Trust to Compliance: Accountability in the Fair Trade Movement

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Eileen Davenport, Will Low) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - There is a growing academic literature exploring the Fair Trade movement but to date, there has been little explicit discussion of accountability within the movement. This paper casts the development of the Fair Trade movement within a shift from trust-based relationships to standards-based systems. We particularly focus on the dominance of an external accountability approach being used for FLO certified products versus an internal accountability approach being adopted through organizational self-assessment of WFTO members. Design/methodology/approach - While this is predominantly a conceptual paper, we draw on primary research with Northern and Southern fair trade organizations (FTOs). Five Southern FTOs were interviewed along with three Northern FTOs.Findings - The paper illustrates the conflict that Power (1997) expressed about trust increasingly being placed in formalized "rituals" of auditing rather than in organizations. Standards-based certification has played a crucial role in mainstreaming fair trade food which reduces the trust relationship to a label and relies on market-based mechanisms of "ethical consumerism" to signal (dis)content with the operations of the certification system. By contrast, organizational self-assessment under development by World Fair Trade Organisation, which has proven popular amongst Southern FTOs, fitting their organisational culture(s) and contributing to organisational learning and democracy, creates greater accountability to internal stakeholders such as producers.Originality/value - This paper draws direct comparisons between the FLO system of certification of products with the WFTO process of self-assessment of organizations. It demonstrates that the WFTO system builds on the movement’s tradition of democracy and trust. Producers, Southern FTOs, and Northern FTOs must demonstrate their democratic principles throughout the supply chain up to consumers. Conversely the FLO system governs the products themselves and largely leaves the participants, other than producer groups, free of demands for CSR and organizational learning.

Fairtrade Governance and Producer Voices: Stronger or Silent?

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Shannon Sutton) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - While recent changes to Fairtrade’s governance structures aim to facilitate ‘stronger voices’ for producers, relatively little is known about the impact on individual farmers. This paper considers the nature of participation and representation, assessing the role of FLO in representing the interests of its members through an exploration of collaborative governance.Design/methodology/approach - I utilize Fung and Wright’s (2003) framework of Empowered Participatory Governance to explore the nature of individual participation in Fairtrade governance. Findings - This paper finds that, while FLO has demonstrated a commitment to improving producer participation and its governance structures appear to be evolving accordingly, much remains to be done in order to ensure that individual producers are genuinely engaged in decision-making and have a voice. The concept of countervailing power (Fung and Wright, 2003) may provide a means of achieving this.Practical implications - This paper highlights gaps in the literature that future research might serve to fill. It also finds that there are practical implications for FLO’s structures and policies that aim to encourage individual participation and representation, particularly with regards to capacity building and leadership. In addition, the notion of countervailing power is outlined as a useful concept for further addressing diversity and heterogeneity in Fairtrade participation.Originality/value - This paper focuses on Fairtrade’s emerging agenda related to producer voices, whilst applying EPG in a novel manner. This theoretical framework allows for an original interpretation of the existing empirical material on Fairtrade, and the introduction of countervailing power as a useful concept within Fairtrade may be of interest to both practitioners and researchers.

Assessing the gender impacts of Fairtrade

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Sally Smith) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to summarise the research evidence related to Fairtrade impacts on women and gender relations and propose a conceptual framework for future research on gender and Fairtrade.Design/methodology/approach - The paper draws on a meta-analysis of research studies on Fairtrade impact, including over 20 case studies from a range of countries and sectors. It proposes a conceptual framework for understanding and researching Fairtrade gender impacts, including direct, indirect and combined impacts. Findings - There is a need to situate analysis of Fairtrade gender impacts within concepts of the gendered economy, including attention to gender biases in income opportunities, intra-household gender relations, organisational and network dynamics, and socio-cultural, legal and political contexts. The available evidence suggests that Fairtrade has mixed impacts for women - in some situations and contexts it supports women to improve their income, wellbeing and status, strengthening their position within the household and organisations, while in others it exacerbates pre-existing gender inequalities. Impacts also differ according to factors such as age, marital status, education and wealth. Research limitations/implications - The conceptual framework should be tested and further refined through empirical work.Practical implications - The conceptual framework identifies key mechanisms used within the Fairtrade system to bring about change, and highlights the multiple connections between Fairtrade and other influences on gender outcomes at individual, household, organisational and community levels. As such, the paper has practical implications for both researchers and practitioners working in the realm of Fairtrade.Originality/value - A meta-analysis of findings on Fairtrade gender impacts has not previously been done in a comprehensive way, and the conceptual framework will support future research on Fairtrade and gender.