Everyday justice? Local practices in Fairtrade's global system

ABSTRACT

Fairtrade is a global system that aims to challenge trade injustice through establishing transparent, democratic and sustainable commodity networks. However, being so international in scope poses its own challenges because Fairtrade has to negotiate the needs and ideals of different stakeholders across diverse product categories and multiple countries. As such, while Fairtrade is a globalised system, it always ‘touches down’ somewhere and so the local places of Fairtrade remain important. Using Fraser's (2008) threedimensional framework, this article explores Fairtrade's promotion of justice in the South African wine industry. The case study highlights that there has been progress across the interconnected dimensions of redistribution, recognition and representation, but obstacles remain. Fairtrade needs to establish, and work towards, a holistic understanding of justice to improve internal procedures as well as support the changes in broader social practices that will help to challenge the structural constraints currently beyond its control.