Awards

• Winner of American Sociological Association, Political Economy of the World-System Section: Book Award 2005
• Winner of American Sociological Association, Political Economy of the World-System Section: Book Award 2005.
• Winner of Winner of American Sociological Association's 2005 Political Economy of the World Systems Distinguished Book Award.

Overview

As the popularity of coffee and coffee shops has grown worldwide in recent years, so has another trend--globalization--which has greatly affected growers and distributors. This book analyzes changes in the structure of the coffee commodity chain over the

Full Product Details

9780742526280

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Reviews

John Talbot's account of the relations of the world coffee industry is a model of analytical lucidity. While the story line concerns coffee, it is also an important study of the politics and ecology of the world market, revealing its contending institutional forces, cycles of regulation, and the social implications of its crises for the producing regions. Most intriguing is the way Talbot explores struggles over control of the coffee chain to chart the rise of specialty coffees, extending to organic and fair-trade coffees, as solutions to contention and crisis. More than commodity chain analysis, this is an in-depth examination of the social and power relations of the global circuits of coffee.--Philip McMichael

John Talbot's account of the relations of the world coffee industry is a model of analytical lucidity. While the story line concerns coffee, it is also an important study of the politics and ecology of the world market, revealing its contending institutional forces, cycles of regulation, and the social implications of its crises for the producing regions. Most intriguing is the way Talbot explores struggles over control of the coffee chain to chart the rise of specialty coffees, extending to organic and fair-trade coffees, as solutions to contention and crisis. More than commodity chain analysis, this is an in-depth examination of the social and power relations of the global circuits of coffee. -- Philip McMichael, Cornell University Talbot's study is a gripping tale of how transnational corporations exploit the labor of farmers in the tropics. His historically deep analysis supports the claims of the movement for globalization from below?-that democratic global institutions are needed to reduce poverty and environmental degradation. -- Christopher Chase-Dunn, Institute for Research on World-Systems, University of California, Riverside This is a valuable addition to the literature on coffee and an interesting case study of an important commodity. Highly recommended. CHOICE John M. Talbot accomplishes an exceptional feat in his new book. This work should serve as a model for other critical studies of the dynamics of actually existing global capitalism. Labor History This rigorous, insightful analysis of one of the most critical aspects of the global economy could not be more timely. In a world where the economic fate of most poor countries depends increasingly on commodity exports, understanding how markets and institutions shape the economic opportunities and potential benefits embodied in such exports is essential. Talbot's rich, careful analysis of the world's most important agricultural export should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand globalization. -- Peter Evans, Eliaser Chair of International Studies, University of California at Berkeley

John Talbot's account of the relations of the world coffee industry is a model of analytical lucidity. While the story line concerns coffee, it is also an important study of the politics and ecology of the world market, revealing its contending institutional forces, cycles of regulation, and the social implications of its crises for the producing regions. Most intriguing is the way Talbot explores struggles over control of the coffee chain to chart the rise of specialty coffees, extending to organic and fair-trade coffees, as solutions to contention and crisis. More than commodity chain analysis, this is an in-depth examination of the social and power relations of the global circuits of coffee. -- Philip David McMichael, Professor, Department of Development Sociology, Cornell University Talbot's study is a gripping tale of how transnational corporations exploit the labor of farmers in the tropics. His historically deep analysis supports the claims of the movement for globalization from below?-that democratic global institutions are needed to reduce poverty and environmental degradation. -- Christopher Chase-Dunn, Institute for Research on World-Systems, University of California, Riverside This is a valuable addition to the literature on coffee and an interesting case study of an important commodity. Highly recommended. * CHOICE * John M. Talbot accomplishes an exceptional feat in his new book. This work should serve as a model for other critical studies of the dynamics of actually existing global capitalism. * Labor History * This rigorous, insightful analysis of one of the most critical aspects of the global economy could not be more timely. In a world where the economic fate of most poor countries depends increasingly on commodity exports, understanding how markets and institutions shape the economic opportunities and potential benefits embodied in such exports is essential. Talbot's rich, careful analysis of the world's most important agricultural export should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand globalization. -- Peter Evans, Eliaser Chair of International Studies, University of California at Berkeley

Author Information

John M. Talbot is a lecturer in sociology at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.

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