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“The whole concept is just a joke. A right to food?” A phenomenological study on state initiative in Vancouver’s food justice and sovereignty movement

Chiu, Mason Ho-Young LU (2021) WPMM42 20211
Sociology
School of Social Work
Department of Sociology
Abstract
This thesis is informed by a collection of discussions that highlight participant perspectives on Vancouver’s food justice and food sovereignty movement, mainstream food discourse in the city, and how the state’s institutional role is involved in prospects for the future. Vancouver, Canada constitutes an appropriate case as a dense, urban, and intensely commodified space with conspicuous pockets of concentrated food activism. A phenomenological approach is used on this food-based social movement, drawing on six semi-structured interviews with select participants stemming from a wide breadth of organisational expertise and knowledge in the movement.

In looking at this food-based social movement, participants reflected on several aspects... (More)
This thesis is informed by a collection of discussions that highlight participant perspectives on Vancouver’s food justice and food sovereignty movement, mainstream food discourse in the city, and how the state’s institutional role is involved in prospects for the future. Vancouver, Canada constitutes an appropriate case as a dense, urban, and intensely commodified space with conspicuous pockets of concentrated food activism. A phenomenological approach is used on this food-based social movement, drawing on six semi-structured interviews with select participants stemming from a wide breadth of organisational expertise and knowledge in the movement.

In looking at this food-based social movement, participants reflected on several aspects of obstructions to actualising food justice and sovereignty rooted in the existing neoliberal and commodified food system. In conversation, participants interwove narratives of Canada’s historic and ongoing processes of settler-colonialism and disempowerment, the dominant economic model, and contemporary social justice to further motivate the need for food systems change. This thesis concludes with potential paths forward in which participants hold optimism for the future of social solidarity and food systems transformation. (Less)
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author
Chiu, Mason Ho-Young LU
supervisor
organization
course
WPMM42 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Food, Sovereignty, Justice, Indigeneity, Neoliberalism
language
English
id
9050798
date added to LUP
2021-06-08 16:57:35
date last changed
2021-06-08 16:57:35
@misc{9050798,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is informed by a collection of discussions that highlight participant perspectives on Vancouver’s food justice and food sovereignty movement, mainstream food discourse in the city, and how the state’s institutional role is involved in prospects for the future. Vancouver, Canada constitutes an appropriate case as a dense, urban, and intensely commodified space with conspicuous pockets of concentrated food activism. A phenomenological approach is used on this food-based social movement, drawing on six semi-structured interviews with select participants stemming from a wide breadth of organisational expertise and knowledge in the movement.

In looking at this food-based social movement, participants reflected on several aspects of obstructions to actualising food justice and sovereignty rooted in the existing neoliberal and commodified food system. In conversation, participants interwove narratives of Canada’s historic and ongoing processes of settler-colonialism and disempowerment, the dominant economic model, and contemporary social justice to further motivate the need for food systems change. This thesis concludes with potential paths forward in which participants hold optimism for the future of social solidarity and food systems transformation.}},
  author       = {{Chiu, Mason Ho-Young}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“The whole concept is just a joke. A right to food?” A phenomenological study on state initiative in Vancouver’s food justice and sovereignty movement}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}