Political Virtue and Shopping: Individuals, Consumerism, and Collective Action

by M. Micheletti

Overview

Political consumerism is turning the market into a site for politics and ethics. It is consumer choice of producers and products on the basis of attitudes and values of personal and family well-being as well as ethical or political assessment of business and government practice. In the face of economic globalization and a regulatory vacuum, consumers increasingly take responsibility in their own hands, making the market an important venue for political action through their decisions of what to purchase. This book opens the readers' eyes to a new way of viewing everyday consumer choices and the role of the market in our lives, illuminating the broader theoretical and historical context of concerns about sweatshops, responsible coffee, and ethical and free trade. Contemporary forms of political consumerism - boycotts, labelling schemes, stewardship certification, socially responsible investing, etc. - are described and evaluated. Individual actions are shown to be important in the complexity of globalization.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403961334
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	10/24/2003
Edition description:	2003
Pages:	307
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

MICHELE MICHELETTI is Associate Professor of Political Science, Skholm University, Sweden.

Table of Contents

Foreword Preface WHY POLITICAL CONSUMERISM When Products Become Political Controversies over Politicizing Consumer Choice Changing Political Landscape Consumer Choice as Politics Political Agency of Consumer Private and Public Virtue Traditions of Political Consumerism Political Consumerism as Individualized Collective Action Renewing Democracy and the Political Community through Political Consumerism HISTORY OF POLITICAL CONSUMERISM Going Back in Time Boycotting Boycott: History of the Term Boycotts in Revolutions: The Constitutional Significance of Everyday Goods Boycotting Food for Social Justice: Contrasting American and European Experience An Early "No Sweat" Labeling Scheme Use of Political Consumerism by Labor Unions Boycotting for Civil Rights International Boycotts and Economic Sanctions Problematic Political Consumerism: Dilemmas of Market-Based Collective Action Political Consumerism and Democracy CONTEMPORARY FORMS AND INSTITUTIONS Politics in the Global Marketplace Regulating Industry and the Role of Political Consumerism Consumer Boycotts Today Seals of Approval Labeling Schemes Stewardship Certification Schemes Socially Responsible Investments Characteristics of Contemporary Political Consumerism A STUDY OF POLITICAL CONSUMERISM TODAY: THE CASE OF GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL BUY IN SWEDEN Why Study Sweden? Comparing with the Past Opening Up Sweden for Green Political Consumerism Good Environmental Choice Type I Eco-Label Political Agency of Green Political Consumerism Middle-Class Women as Green Political Consumer Agents Market-Based Bridging and Bonding: A New Evolving Swedish Model? SHOPPING WITH AND FOR VIRTUES Why Virtues Today? Responsible Shopping, Social Capital, and Trust Political Consumerism Criticized A Great Transformation? Market-Based Political Responsibility and New Actor Categories Appendix 1: The Political Business of Consumerism: A New Research Agenda for the Social Sciences Why Study Political Consumerism? Research Challenge Bibliography Secondary Sources Printed Primary Sources Internet Sources Interviews

Editorial Reviews

'This is a theoretically-sophisticated and empirically-rich examination of the increasingly important phenomenon of political consumerism. Micheletti's book is distinguished by its comparative focus, its social science framework, and its careful analysis of the ways in which the very nature of politics has been challenged and reshaped by consumer activists. I especially like her concept of 'individualized collective action,' which nicely highlights the growing links between consumer behavior and politics. The book concludes with a valuable research agenda for the study of political consumerism. Scholars, politicians, and activists who seek to make sense of the meaning of political consumerism now have an excellent resource. Political Virtue and Shopping will take a prominent place on the bookshelf of 'required readings' in the area of consumer politics.' - Lawrence Glickman, University of South Carolina, USA

'This is a solid work of scholarship. It advances an important and novel thesis and situates its analysis both theoretically and empirically.' - David Vogel, University of California at Berkeley, USA

From the Publisher