ABSTRACT
Has Fairtrade lost its way? Practitioners and academics alike debate whether today’s Fairtrade mark honors or bastardizes the intentions of Fairtrade pioneers. Their arguments are often based on assertions about how the governance of Fair-trade has changed over time. “Fairtrade governance” refers to the complex system of processes and practices used to make high-level decisions about certifying Fairtrade, such as organizational structure and institutional norms. This chapter briefly argues that extant sources of information about Fairtrade governance lack methodological rigor and historical accuracy. It then provides a historical narrative that improves upon these shortcomings. 1
