SOC 808 Chapter Notes - Chapter 21: Sustainability, Our Common Future, Karl Polanyi
Document Summary
Sustainable food systems are based on the concept of civil commons: co-operative human constructions that protect and/or enable universal access to life- goods. An interdependent web of activities that include the production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food. Range from simple (hunting and gathering) to elaborate (roman empire) Can be very local (self-provisioning) or huge (global corporate food system) Most modern food systems are complex and multi-layered. Built by people to satisfy their needs and desires relational. Relations are rarely positive food has been about power and money. An interdependent web of corporate-controlled activities at the global scale that include the production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food: a battlefield, controlled by a few corporations - lobby, threaten, plead, and demand political favour. Industrial revolution: self-regulating markets require commodification of labour, land, and money, at its own will, the market economy would create great & permanent evils. Evident today: kills farmers & consumers while wrecking the environment.
