The idea of a fair trade market is something that has become increasingly popular recently. The concept is to provide the producers in third world countries a fairer price for the goods they produce. These products are either grown or extracted from their homelands or are produced by cheap labor.
Twenty first century capitalism did not just appear. It evolved in a process that was strongly dependent on the relationship that was established through the existence of colonialism. Britain is a very good example of an old power that was built on the pursuit and acquisition of empire. During the age of discovery, they set about growing their influence around the world. The legacy of unfair relationship continues to exist right up to today.
During the days when colonial domination was being established, some countries of Europe assumed power over foreign lands around the world. These succeeded in achieving their hegemony with military might. They soon set about converting their new territories to producers of raw materials to feed the burgeoning industry of Europe. Once the raw material had been processed the colonies were ready markets to receive their products back in the form of manufactured goods.
The countries that were colonized were the perfect markets for the goods which they bought at a price way elevated over and above the price paid for the raw material. The fact of the matter is that the colonial powers were the very authorities that actually fixed the prices. They did this to favor the buyers of the raw materials and at the expense of those that produced it. It was a system by which the rich got richer and the poor, poorer.
Many people think that colonialism is a historical entity that no longer applies in the modern world. Unfortunately, this is not true. It is something that still operates up till today. So many countries still find themselves locked in the age old position of being the suppliers of unprocessed products which are purchased by the industrialized countries at low prices. Palm oil, cocoa and even gold and diamonds are examples of some of these raw materials.
Not only have the unfair trading relationships persisted, they have developed and evolved some disturbing elements in the modern day. The use of cheap labor to produce manufactured goods is something that is particularly pertinent today. For example, it has been very newsworthy that many people in Asian countries have to endure terrible conditions in order to produce cheap clothing for Western markets.
The unfair relationship in the case of cheap labor is getting a lot of news coverage which is bring the matter to the attention of consumers in the west. They are learning for the first time how the cheap clothes in their stores got to be there. Those with a conscience are deciding to boycott some of the worst offending stores in order to campaign for better practices.
For this reason, more and more people are looking for a fair trade market in which to buy their goods from. They do not wish to perpetuate the status quo. Many retailers are also responding to this new awareness by consumers and stocking their shops from ethical sources and that are traded fairly.
Twenty first century capitalism did not just appear. It evolved in a process that was strongly dependent on the relationship that was established through the existence of colonialism. Britain is a very good example of an old power that was built on the pursuit and acquisition of empire. During the age of discovery, they set about growing their influence around the world. The legacy of unfair relationship continues to exist right up to today.
During the days when colonial domination was being established, some countries of Europe assumed power over foreign lands around the world. These succeeded in achieving their hegemony with military might. They soon set about converting their new territories to producers of raw materials to feed the burgeoning industry of Europe. Once the raw material had been processed the colonies were ready markets to receive their products back in the form of manufactured goods.
The countries that were colonized were the perfect markets for the goods which they bought at a price way elevated over and above the price paid for the raw material. The fact of the matter is that the colonial powers were the very authorities that actually fixed the prices. They did this to favor the buyers of the raw materials and at the expense of those that produced it. It was a system by which the rich got richer and the poor, poorer.
Many people think that colonialism is a historical entity that no longer applies in the modern world. Unfortunately, this is not true. It is something that still operates up till today. So many countries still find themselves locked in the age old position of being the suppliers of unprocessed products which are purchased by the industrialized countries at low prices. Palm oil, cocoa and even gold and diamonds are examples of some of these raw materials.
Not only have the unfair trading relationships persisted, they have developed and evolved some disturbing elements in the modern day. The use of cheap labor to produce manufactured goods is something that is particularly pertinent today. For example, it has been very newsworthy that many people in Asian countries have to endure terrible conditions in order to produce cheap clothing for Western markets.
The unfair relationship in the case of cheap labor is getting a lot of news coverage which is bring the matter to the attention of consumers in the west. They are learning for the first time how the cheap clothes in their stores got to be there. Those with a conscience are deciding to boycott some of the worst offending stores in order to campaign for better practices.
For this reason, more and more people are looking for a fair trade market in which to buy their goods from. They do not wish to perpetuate the status quo. Many retailers are also responding to this new awareness by consumers and stocking their shops from ethical sources and that are traded fairly.
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