This research paper examines the power dynamics of the coffee industry concerning sustainable coffee production. We explore how the power relations of coffee roasters continue to survive the changing nature of coffee consumption. Market control for coffee in the United States enhances the coffee value chain. Symbolic capital concerns organizational discourse at a micro-level. It is also essential in the symbolic system and power dynamics of the coffee roaster industry at the macro level. However, the use of power to control the coffee industry leads to societal problems with coffee production. There is a rising creation and incorporation of power in new institutions.
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MAINTAINING POWER RELATIONS IN THE COFFEE INDUSTRY
As long as there is the use of power to control the coffee industry, there will always be societal problems with coffee production. This relates mainly to the control of coffee prices and other regulations regarding its production and consumption. In this case, we will look at coffee production and consumption as institutions. These institutions affect the coffee value chain in many ways. This is through the exchange and use of power to maintain or disrupt the said institutions. Since these institutions are social constructions, they require ongoing interactions among their actors to maintain institutional stability. The interactions also aim at ensuring sustainable coffee production.
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HISTORY OF CHALLENGES FACING THE COFFEE INDUSTRY
Various historical events had huge impacts on sustainable coffee production. Examples include the adverse effects of the Great Depression, World War II, Black Frost, and Civil Wars. These events triggered considerable transformations to the coffee value chains. However, the power relationships between the actors in the industry remained the same. In 1971 growers retained an estimated 18% of total income, in addition to 12% of value-added in producing countries. Roasters and retailers retained 58%. With a rise in societal problems with coffee production, this distribution underwent a significant change in 1990. This was after the liberation of the market with the termination of the International Coffee Agreement. Afterward, the participation of the growers in the final income was only 11%, while consuming countries retained 79%.
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