ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book conceptualises and position the key theoretical terms of 'empowerment' and 'practice' around which it is structured, and discusses them through brief examples from South Africa. It introduces 'scales of knowing' and 'tactical mutability' both of which work together towards a more holistic conceptualisation of practices, setting them within their broader power-laden alliances and antagonisms. The book also focuses on the history of wine industry, considering its apartheid relations and post-apartheid efforts at transformation. It also focuses on the Fairtrade which, although small in terms of its geographical impact on South African agricultural production, is a highly visible global brand offering attractive market and development opportunities. The book then highlights the continuing political challenges and entrenched interests within the South African wine industry, as well as the struggles faced by producers and NGOs in a world of proliferating ethical systems.
