Commodity Chains Research Articles

Racial Capitalism, Cedric Robinson, and a Method for Architectural History

Elaborating on the techniques that the Black Studies scholar Cedric Robinson uses to write the histories of racial capitalism, this essay outlines a way to approach longue durée architectural histories. Robinson analyses racial capitalism in Black Marxism (1983) through the practices of what he calls the Black radical tradition, and these techniques provide a way to conceptualise a history of architecture in the modern Atlantic World that focuses on denaturalising the racial regimes that have shaped it. Using a series of examples—a lecture by a carpenter-architect in upstate New York, Thomas Jefferson’s house Monticello, an advertisement for marble-quarrying labour in Tennessee, and the commodity chains of lumber—this essay outlines the questions and methods that Robinson’s approach, which he describes both as a “counterfeiting” of received discourse and as a non-dialectical negation of that discourse, suggests for architectural histories that attends to vast geographies and timescales.

A review of intensive contract poultry farming in Nigeria

Contract farming (CF) is a sort of vertical integration in agricultural commodity chains that provides a business with strong control over several operational processes, including the production process, the features of the items, quantity, quality, and timeliness of project execution. Birds were first domesticated by humans as farm animals, and as a result, many years ago, the contemporary practice of raising birds began with the harvesting of their eggs and young from their natural habitat. The Nigerian poultry industry falls into three main categories: small-, medium-, and large-scale, which are also referred to as backyard, semi-commercial, and commercial respectively. Contract farming emerged as an alternative to traditional or spot market-based agricultural production and was introduced into Nigeria under a variety of business names, including CHI, AMO, ANIMAL CARE, and ZARTECH, among others. Nigeria consumes 192.69 MT of poultry meat and egg products annually, resulting in enormous environmental impacts that have not been adequately addressed because of the growing use of contract farming. Contract farming has always received a lot of attention from academics and policymakers. Even though contract farming acknowledges the transfer of technology, prospects for increased revenue, and improved access to inputs, a great deal of research has focused on the risks that smallholder farmers face. In recent years, debate has erupted regarding the benefits and dangers of factory poultry production considering rising awareness of the challenges it poses to public health and the environment. This review reveals that backyard flocks of chickens can thrive independently of large-scale poultry operations. Survival traits including tiny size, hardiness, sluggish growth, low mature body weight, tolerance, or resistance to common local disease organisms and parasites define local chickens.

Regional pathologies of late-stage neoliberalization: The case of Japan in East Asia

The ‘polycrisis’ of global capitalism has regional and national particularities that are worthy of exploration. In the case of East Asia, we see rising military, political and economic tensions which mirror global trends, but take a specific concrete regional form. We offer an explanation for these tensions in East Asia that highlight their roots in developments within the national models of capitalism that make up the region, in this case from the perspective of Japan. Drawing on a regulation theory framework, we show how Japan’s faltering national regime of accumulation has been through a constant process of neoliberalization since the early 1990s. This has prompted a number of institutional shifts, one of which includes increasing integration within the East Asian region. This, however, has produced a number of new problems, which we might consider to be general pathologies of late-stage neoliberalization and that are typically experienced at the regional level. In particular, we identify four interconnected and mutually reinforcing pathologies: heightened national economic and political rivalries; heightened market competition; increased vulnerability to disruption to region-wide commodity chains; and declining popular support that is being met by political attempts to adopt nationalist legitimation strategies. Such an account allows us to understand the obstacles and tensions preventing moves towards a smoother process of accumulation in the case of Japan in East Asia, and more generally throughout the contemporary global political economy, as well as offering a more complete account of the complexity and contradictions associated with the growing assertiveness of the Japanese state.

Will the EU deforestation-free products regulation (EUDR) reduce tropical forest loss? Insights from three producer countries

The European Union regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) represents a policy innovation with important implications for the governance of global commodity chains. We discuss the risks and limitations of this policy derived from an ex-ante assessment of the robustness of its theory of change. For doing so, we use insights from the literature on zero-deforestation commitments and other private standards in value chains and from trade and deforestation patterns in three relevant producer countries (Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia). Despite the potentially positive symbolic effect in mobilizing a global agenda for combating deforestation, the EUDR faces several drawbacks and risks associated with three of its constitutive features: To be demand-oriented, having the value chain as the unit of intervention and holding a high degree of unilateralism. We conclude that to be effective in curbing tropical deforestation, the Regulation must be complemented with international cooperation aiming to strengthen national policies with a territorial approach, as well as social movements addressing the underlying causes of forest loss and human rights violations in the territories where it takes place.

Trade and socioeconomic importance of an invasive giant snail in the endemic-rich island of São Tomé, Central Africa.

Managing invasive species is crucial to mitigate their negative impacts on ecosystems, yet conflicts may arise when their social benefits are disregarded. Human pressure on the endemic-rich forests of São Tomé has been high since the island was discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century, and numerous species have been introduced. These include the invasive West African giant land snail (Archachatina marginata), which was introduced in the mid-20th century, is now widespread on the island, and is a potential threat to native flora and fauna. We assessed the frequency of consumption of this species and its socioeconomic importance to people across the island with household questionnaires, focus group discussions, and semistructured interviews. We explored the prevalence and potential drivers of use (e.g., wealth, household composition, and diversity of occupations) and characterized the commodity chain to identify demographic groups linked to the snail trade. We interviewed 672 people (1 person per household), conducted 6 focus groups, and interviewed 80 key actors belonging to 5 subcategories. The snail was the most widely consumed bushmeat and an important source of income, particularly for women and unemployed youth. Insecure and scarce livelihood alternatives, mostly in rural areas, were reported as drivers for trade involvement. Snail harvesting was more frequent in poorer households with low occupational diversity. Selling tended to occur in households that were well-established in the community and had a higher proportion of children. Both were stimulated by the proximity of communities to the native forest. Buying snails was common in all demographic groups, but it was linked to wealth and occupational diversity. Interventions to manage the impact of this introduced species on the valuable ecosystems of the island should involve multiple sectors of society to ensure societal support. This requires robust consideration of the welfare of vulnerable demographic groups that benefit from the species.

Unequal exchange of labour in the world economy

Researchers have argued that wealthy nations rely on a large net appropriation of labour and resources from the rest of the world through unequal exchange in international trade and global commodity chains. Here we assess this empirically by measuring flows of embodied labour in the world economy from 1995–2021, accounting for skill levels, sectors and wages. We find that, in 2021, the economies of the global North net-appropriated 826 billion hours of embodied labour from the global South, across all skill levels and sectors. The wage value of this net-appropriated labour was equivalent to €16.9 trillion in Northern prices, accounting for skill level. This appropriation roughly doubles the labour that is available for Northern consumption but drains the South of productive capacity that could be used instead for local human needs and development. Unequal exchange is understood to be driven in part by systematic wage inequalities. We find Southern wages are 87–95% lower than Northern wages for work of equal skill. While Southern workers contribute 90% of the labour that powers the world economy, they receive only 21% of global income.

Mapping global value chain, production network, and commodity chain literature using scientometrics: an integrative resilient value chains model based on a review of the literature

Purpose Global value chains (GVCs) are facing unprecedented pressures arising from structural changes in the global economy and exogenous shocks including military conflicts and the aftermath of COVID-19. Considering the importance of value chain analysis in the current environment, the purpose of the study is to provide an up-to-date overarching global value chain literature review study that offers suggestions for research and practice to ensure resilient value and supply chains. Design/methodology/approach The authors provide a comprehensive review of literature of the value chain, commodity chain and production network research based on a systems overview of 5,628 publications to identify the extent of research on vulnerabilities and resilience of value chains globally and gaps therein. To provide the systems overview, the authors use scientometric content co-occurrence analysis methods to analyze and identify gaps within the existing literature. Findings Based on this overarching review of the literature, the authors identify gaps in the literature primarily related to the issue of unpreparedness of value chains to exogenous shocks. The authors suggest future research directions and propose an integrative model along with recommendations for restructuring value chains for resilience amidst exogenous shocks. Originality/value This study carries out an overarching study of interdisciplinary GVC literature in the age of geopolitical and societal challenges and is thus able to offer holistic insights and propositions for future research.

Commodity chain as a negotiated process: Empirical analysis of benefit allocation, governance, and powers of upstream and downstream actors in matsutake mushroom trade in Shangri-La, Yunnan Province

The commercialization of non-timber forest products beyond in-house consumption is a strategy for alleviating rural poverty and forest degradation. With the implementation of the ecological civilization program, the Chinese government has explored the value realization mechanism of sustainable ecological products, and many successful cases of agricultural product commercialization have emerged. Focusing on the matsutake of Shangri-La as an example, this study applies both qualitative and quantitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, secondary data collection, and statistical analysis for the dynamics of the matsutake commodity chain construction in the southwest plateau of China to obtain unique insights into contemporary rural China. Specifically, the interrelationships and functional logic of diverse participants in the core process of commodity management were analyzed. We found that the upstream and downstream participants in the matsutake commodity chain are subject to institutional constraints, such as land tenure and non-unified standards, and that markets are crucial to matsutake's trading in Shangri-La. Certain participants along the commodity chain have inefficient information sources, while middlemen have greater autonomy in the matsutake transaction process and a larger profit margin. Additionally, the involvement of the government and non-governmental organizations impacts the preservation of natural resources and the creation of a stable market order, but policies and funds tend to be short-lived. To improve the commodity chain sustainability of non-timber forest products in plateau areas, it is necessary to consider social and cultural factors, ensure the equity of different participants in the commodity chain, and protect traditional local knowledge related to natural resource management.

Os protegidos de Ceres: produtores, moageiros e política cerealífera nos Açores (1923-1932)

This article departs from the economic and political context of the transition from the 1920s to the 1930s to study the evolution of the cereal policy in Azores. In this dynamic change process, agriculture, in general, and cereal farming, in particular, have been heavily targeted by public policies and governmental decisions. Our main purposes are the analysis of the organization, relations and implications of the activities of the agents involved in the commodity chain of wheat. It was concluded that the forms of public mobilization and pressure of the economic elites, in this case, the millers and agricultural landowners, on the political instances were not far from what occurred in the continental context, although the state has become the ultimate regulatory element.

O projeto global do agronegócio Chinês na cadeia mercantil da soja brasileira: Estruturas históricas e ações atuais

ABSTRACT This article describes the political motivations and economic actions of China’s global agribusiness project in the Brazilian soybean commodity chain. To verify these facts, we use literature review and qualitative data analysis through a long-term description of the political and economic actions of the Chinese agents. Additionally, we connect Chinese investments on the Brazilian soybean commodity chain as a practical representation of these actions. In sum, the article highlighted that long-term structures influence current actions in China and is being strengthened by the active participation of Chinese firms in commodity chains, such as Brazilian soybean.

Commercialization Process for Developing Agritourism: The Use of Commodity Chain Analysis

ABSTRACT Agritourism, a combination of agriculture and tourism, entails a complex process of commercializing agricultural resources into tourist products. This study utilizes the commodity chain model to outline the stages of commercialization for rural resources and shed light on critical challenges and prospects in agritourism development in Taiwan. The research reveals that agritourism commercialization unfolds across seven distinct phases: planning experiential products, designing service delivery, positioning commodities in the market, marketing and promotion, establishing sales channels, ensuring on-site delivery and quality control, and consumption by visitors within the Production-Exchange-Consumption (PEC) framework. By analyzing the commodity chain of agritourism, we gain comprehensive insights into each stage of resource commercialization and its intricate implications for the roles and influences of various stakeholders. This study contributes to academic discourse on agritourism commercialization and offers recommendations to foster sustainable agritourism experiences.

Beyond the commodity: gendered socionatures, value, and commoning in Mexican coffee plots

Increasingly, women are the producers of many agricultural commodities around the world and feminist scholars astutely argue that women subsidize global agricultural production because the exchange value attributed to their products in commodity chains does not fairly compensate them. Although this is the case with women’s smallholder coffee in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in this paper we seek to move beyond an analysis of value and exploitation based on the commodity (in this case, coffee) to explore more fully women’s production practices. Drawing on debates over the question of value production in socionatures, we suggest that as women cultivate coffee, they also create socionatural spaces in which they produce and valorise a host of things and relations. Literature on diverse economies, Latin American theorizations of lo común (the common), and feminist political ecology help us examine how women also generate a multiplicity of values that exceeds their fraught relationship with global commodity chains. This perspective enables us to expand the way we understand women producers, seeing them simultaneously as subjects exploited by value extraction through the commodity chain to political actors engaging with other forms of valuing and promoting life.

A Spatial History of Seaports in South Asia

Seaports provide material foundations for globalization. In the long history of global mobile connectivity that now forms globalization, the Indian Ocean is the world's oldest arena of expansive long-distance sea travel. People have sailed monsoon winds among coastal environments connecting Europe, Africa, India, and China since prehistoric times. Indian Ocean ports grew in number, size, wealth, and permanence over the centuries and anchored the rise of seaborne empires connecting Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Modernity traveled among industrial port cities along with lower unit costs for shipping and a dramatically increasing scale of shipping in volume, value, distance, and speed. Capital investments in seaport infrastructure grew with the scale of mobility through ports connecting producers and consumers by land and sea in commodity chains that eventually embraced people around the world with increasingly intricate, expansive interdependence, and also with ever more entrenched spatial inequity. The result is the current global seaport space of interwoven connectivity strung along the coastlines of globalization on all the continents.

State-Directed Wood Industry Upgrading for Forest Protection and Economic Development in the Global South: Insights From Teak Processing in the Lao PDR

Asymmetric timber trade between least-developed countries with large forest resources but backward processing industries and emerging economies has led to an uneven distribution of value in international timber commodity chains. Selling their raw timber with no domestic value added contributes little to socio-economic development and is associated with high rates of deforestation. The Lao PDR has served as a raw timber frontier for advanced timber industries in neighboring countries, leading to forest loss and related environmental problems. In response, since 2015, the Lao government has adopted drastic policy measures to end forest degradation and upgrade its timber industry (e.g., log export ban). Using teak as an example, our study provides empirical ex-post evidence on the effectiveness of state-imposed timber industry upgrading policies. The study relies on expert interviews with key policy actors at national and local levels, as well as an enterprise survey and cluster analysis conducted in Xayyabouly province. These drastic policies had far-reaching implications for the structure of the timber industry and the configuration of the timber value chain and rural development.

The Great Neoliberal War: Conflict in Contemporary Mexico

In the past decades, Mexico has hosted one of the world’s deadliest internal conflicts. There are few global parallels to the scale of killing, disappearances, mass graves, feminicides, kidnappings, extortion, murder of social activists and violence against journalists. Predominant interpretations and governmental narratives cast Mexico’s conflict as owing fundamentally to state weakness and criminal organizations bidding to control drug flows. This article advances a different interpretation. Drawing from structuralist perspectives, the article underscores the extensive criminogenic dynamics set in motion by Mexico’s radical commitment to neoliberal transformation. Similarly, the article underlines the extent to which violence in many cases transpires less from drug conflicts than the creation of new export markets and new commodity chains. Turned invisible by a ‘Drug War’ narrative, Mexico represents a powerful lens into the social violence generated by and paving the way towards our neoliberal futures.

Global Commodity Chains and the Pandemic

Global Commodity Chains and the Pandemic

Scandinavian Imperialism

Abstract This article is about Scandinavia—mainly Sweden’s—integration into and role within global capitalism. I focus on Sweden because it is the most important in economic terms; and “the Swedish model” is the ideal type of capitalist welfare state and social democracy there is most advanced. It covers the period from colonialism to present-day global commodity chains. It also describes the impact of imperialism on the working class in this process. Finally, it takes up Scandinavia’s current role in the imperialist system. The Scandinavian country’s economic and political systems cannot be understood without this long and global perspective. The development of global capitalism has significantly influenced the national contradictions that have come to define the “Scandinavian model.”

Labor organizing at chokepoints along Amazon’s supply chain: Locating geo-strategic nodes

Amazon seems to be creating a new hybrid model of capitalism combining some elements of classical Fordist vertical integration, or even the over hundred-year-old “Taylorism” of scientific management, with 21st century elements of labor “flexibility” and reliance on gig labor and subcontracting. This hybrid model offers opportunities for organized labor to gain a foothold within some of Amazon’s vertically integrated nodes as the firm lengthens its corporate commodity chain to grow increasingly close to consumers. Building on earlier work on opportunities for, and constraints on, labor in a variety of global commodity chains, our empirical cases examine how Amazon’s corporate strategies may open opportunities for labor in three illustrative cases ensconced in fulfillment centers—the Fordist vertical integration side of the model—in the Inland Empire and Otay Mesa (both in southern California) and Northern Kentucky.

The Decline of the Labour Movement in Turkey during the Neoliberal Globalization and the Hope for Revitalization

ABSTRACT The 1990s witnessed a shift in the makeup of Turkish industry. Many small firms rose to fortune throughout Anatolia by finding a niche in the ever-expanding global commodity chains of the era of neoliberal globalization. The union movement, though, failed to adapt to this new pattern in industrial relations. This paper analyses the social dynamics and political mechanisms of this union inertia and argues that the traditional unions that were built during the era of state-led industrialization and then import substitution developed an ingrained inability to organize in the small industrial firms typical for the nodes of global commodity chains dispersed throughout Anatolia. However, recently a new type of labour militancy has emerged, creating sporadic opportunities for the labour movement's revitalization.

The Forest Stewardship Council in Chile

Climate change and forest fires are bringing global forest management back into the public eye. One of the most important players on a global level is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which certifies forest products. This article argues that market-based regulatory mechanisms such as the FSC have systematic weaknesses and, using the example of the Chilean forest industry, shows that this is particularly true for the regulation of global extractivist commodity chains. It argues that private regulatory mechanisms such as FSC perpetuate global dependencies, ecological problems, and social inequalities.