How can fair trade promote development ? : Concept definition and comparative case study of Nicaragua, Burkina Faso and Morocco

Dissertant

al-Filali, Maria

Thesis advisor

BuZaydi, Muhammad

University

Al Akhawayn University

Faculty

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

International Studies and Diplomacy

University Country

Morocco

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2008

English Abstract

The world economy and globalization have caused endless debates with regard to the ongoing impoverishment of small local producers of the South.

As a number of Altermondialist found it difficult to stop the globalization wave (if it was at all stoppable), many of them thought about a new form of trade that would take into account the ethical and human development elements in order to establish a more human economic trade system.

This new way of envisaging the world economy came as a result of the crucial importance that human development issues have gained in international relations thinking during the past decades.

“Fair trade” is the appellation given to this new form of human and ethical economy, as it clearly assumes that the trade we experience is not fair.

The concept of fair trade revolutionized in many ways the classical theory of trade where market prices should be set by the law of offer and demand.

With fair trade, the small producers are supposedly no more vulnerable to international prices set by the market but can sell their products abroad at a fair price that can cover their costs of production and offer them a more decent life.

Fair trade has been popular in number of countries of the South, as more and more enterprises seek to be part of it regardless of the types or quantity of products they can export.

A number of European entities adhered to this ‘ethical’ trade by prioritizing fair traded goods over others (the European Union, Switzerland).

This research is an evaluation of how fair trade processes are taking place in Morocco, in comparison to interesting experiences in other countries such as Nicaragua and Burkina Faso.

It remains too early to discuss about a widely spread fair trade system in Morocco, but concepts of fair trade and “économie solidaire” are being part of both governmental and nongovernmental development organizations’ discourse.

The fair trade concept is already taking 5 place especially in the South of Morocco where Argan production is being developed.

Argan is defined as Argania Spinosa, and the fruit is used to produce oil for both cooking and cosmetics.

The point here is not to see whether fair trade in Morocco exists or not, but to see how its basic processes and principles are taking place.

Argan cooperatives of women started to export argan based cosmetics and oil under the fair trade label, even if most of the time they are not certified by Fair Trade Labeling Organizations (FLO’s) such as Max Havelaar (the most known label for fair trade).

Main Subjects

Engineering & Technology Sciences (Multidisciplinary)

No. of Pages

106

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-591928