LE3 .A278 2007

2007

Sacouman, Jim

Acadia University

Master of Arts

Masters

Sociology

Sociology

This thesis is an exploratory analysis of fair trade organizations and communities in Ecuador using the key concepts of human rights, fairness, equality, equity, solidarity and self-emancipation. The central purposes are: (1) to explore the perspectives of some fair trade producers in Ecuador; (2) to understand the degree to which the above concepts are socially realized in order; (3) to explore social relationships among producers and relationships between producers and consumers in the direction of making fair trade fairer. Through exploring the perspectives of some producers in Ecuador, this thesis moves beyond the literature to develop a first hand understanding of bow fair trade organizations work with social justice organizations. Problematic issues that arise in the South must not only to be addressed from the viewpoint of the North but also from one of solidarity between the North and South: a relationship of solidarity that moves beyond rhetoric in the pursuit of more genuine human rights. Learningthe perspectives of peasants and social figures in Ecuador led to the exploration of relationships among producers. Further exploration and thematic coding allowed me to consider producers' views within a Nova Scotian (Northern) context regarding the contradictory nature of formal language and the self-emancipatory reality of struggling against social injustice.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2923