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Problems with the defetishization thesis: ethical consumerism, alternative food systems, and commodity fetishism

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  • Ryan Gunderson

Abstract

The defetishization thesis claims alternative markets can lead to a more honest, less mystified relationship with food production and, in turn, strengthen civil society. Drawing from Marxian political economic and environmental sociological theory, I make three general claims: (1) capitalism is inherently ecologically and socially harmful; (2) “ethical” commodities derived from alternative markets cannot fundamentally counteract the pervasiveness and scale of (1); and, because of (1) and (2), (3) ethical consumerism does not defetishize the commodity form, but acts as a new layer of commodity fetishism that masks the harms of capitalism by convincing society that the harms of capitalism can be rehabilitated with the commodity form itself. Prescriptively, I argue traditional, large-scale political tactics would be needed for “defetishization” to take place. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

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  • Ryan Gunderson, 2014. "Problems with the defetishization thesis: ethical consumerism, alternative food systems, and commodity fetishism," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(1), pages 109-117, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:31:y:2014:i:1:p:109-117
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-013-9460-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sam Bliss, 2019. "The Case for Studying Non-Market Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-30, June.
    2. Angela M. Chapman & Harold A. Perkins, 2020. "Malign and benign neglect: a local food system and the myth of sustainable redevelopment in Appalachia Ohio," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(1), pages 113-127, March.
    3. Eric R. Sarmiento, 2017. "Synergies in alternative food network research: embodiment, diverse economies, and more-than-human food geographies," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(2), pages 485-497, June.
    4. Ryan Gunderson, 2019. "Work time reduction and economic democracy as climate change mitigation strategies: or why the climate needs a renewed labor movement," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 9(1), pages 35-44, March.
    5. Steffen Hirth & Theresa Bürstmayr & Anke Strüver, 2022. "Discourses of sustainability and imperial modes of food provision: agri-food-businesses and consumers in Germany," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 573-588, June.
    6. Rezvani, L., 2020. "Plants and their peasants: a more-than-human approach to plant breeding and seed politics in Brittany, France," ISS Working Papers - General Series 124280, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    7. Agni Kalfagianni & Lena Partzsch & Miriam Beulting, 2020. "Governance for global stewardship: can private certification move beyond commodification in fostering sustainability transformations?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(1), pages 65-81, March.

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