ABSTRACT
This chapter presents Fair Trade as a unique phenomenon in the global economy. Particular attention is paid to the definitions and aims of Fair Trade that clearly show how it addresses most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Then the focus shifts to its genesis and evolution. Their closer analysis provides justification for the use of the term Fair Trade initiative, encompassing both the Fair Trade market and social movement. This is followed by an explanation of the dual nature of the Fair Trade market, which results from two distinct determinants of the market: alternative business models and product certifications. In this context, its developments to date, diversity of its participants, and the scope and size of this market are shown. An important part of this chapter is the final section revealing Fair Trade as a research subject in the international literature. The analysis of the literature on the subject allowed for the identification of three research gaps relating to the nature of Fair Trade, its effectiveness in pursuing its goals, and desired government policy towards it, which allowed for the formulation of the research question and the objective of the study.
