Cocoa

Kristy Leissle

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Paperback

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English

Polity Press
02 February 2017

History; Food & society; International relations; International trade

Series: Resources

Chocolate has long been a favourite indulgence in Europe and the Americas. Asia too is developing a growing appetite for this everyday luxury. But behind every chocolate bar we unwrap lie power struggles and political manoeuvring over its most important ingredient: cocoa.

In this incisive book, Kristy Leissle reveals how cocoa, which brings pleasure and wealth to relatively few, depends upon an extensive global trade system that exploits the labour of five million growers, as well as countless other workers and vulnerable groups. The reality of this dramatic inequity, she explains, is often masked by the social, cultural, emotional, and economic values humans have placed upon cocoa from its earliest cultivation in Mesoamerica to the present day.

Tracing the cocoa value chain from farms in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, through to chocolate factories in Europe and North America, Leissle shows how cocoa has been used as a political tool to wield power over others. Cocoa's politicization is not, however, limitless: it happens within botanical parameters set by the crop itself, and the material reality of its transport, storage, and manufacture into chocolate. As calls for justice in the industry have grown louder, Leissle reveals the possibilities and constraints for realizing a truly sustainable and fulfilling livelihood for cocoa growers, and for keeping the world full of chocolate.

By: Kristy Leissle
Imprint: Polity Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 206mm, Width: 145mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 318g
ISBN: 9781509513178
ISBN 10: 1509513175
Series: Resources
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 02 February 2017
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Contents Abbreviations Figures and Tables Acknowledgments 1 Introduction 2 World Cocoa Map 3 Stages of Sweet 4 Power in the Market 5 Economics on the Ground 6 Trade Justice 7 Governing Quality 8 Sustainable Futures Notes Selected Readings Index

Kristy Leissle is a scholar of the global cocoa and chocolate industries. Her work addresses the political economy and cultures of chocolate across West Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Dr. Leissle is a Lecturer at the University of Washington Bothell, where she teaches Global Studies.

Reviews for Cocoa

In this fascinating analysis, Kristy Leissle explores the rich history of the global cocoa sector and the changing dynamics of the chocolate confectionery industry. It will be an essential resource for anyone wanting to promote a more sustainable future for cocoa. -Stephanie Barrientos, University of Manchester Kristy Leissle's book offers an insightful critique of power relations in the world of cocoa. Addressing issues that are often not known or misunderstood in the public arena, this clear and compelling text is a must-read for students, scholars and activists. -Amanda Berlan, De Montfort University A concise analysis of the inequalities that pervade an industry of 5m growers, spread across the tropics. -Financial Times You will never look at chocolate in the same way again. -Geographical