(Not) Beyond Consumption: Citizen Engagement in Food Politics

• Author / Creator

  Sprague, Cathryn E

• Many accounts of Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) describe them as cohesive social movements that adequately address the social and environmental externalities of food and agricultural production. Yet others question whether initiatives that focus on localized consumer driven change can provide radical transformation of social systems. This thesis takes up this debate, using data from interviews and participant observation of key actors in AFNs in Edmonton, Alberta to explore civic engagement in food politics. While this study sought to go beyond consumption, by integrating data from producers, consumers and everyday citizens, findings indicate that there is an overwhelming emphasis on consumer driven change amongst all groups, bringing into question the efficacy of such approaches. Overall, this thesis emphasizes the need to engage in a food politics that critically examines the root contextual, political, and institutional factors that underpin the negative externalities associated with our food and agricultural systems.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Advocacy
  • Alternative food networks
  • Food studies
  • Agriculture
  • Consumption
  • Farmers
  • Food politics
  • Activism
  • Cultural politics
  • Sustainable food
  • Environmental sociology
  • Production
  • Social movements
  • Community of practice
  • Citizen-consumer hybrid
  • Citizenship

• Graduation date

  Fall 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3NQ34

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.