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Consumer in the world-systems: understanding narratives on environmental and social impacts of consumption from Melbourne, Australia.

Olszewska, Julia LU (2012) HEKM10 20121
Human Ecology
Abstract
In this thesis I set to examine, through the lenses of world-systems and ecological unequal exchange theories, stories of how individuals relate to their consumption and its environmental and social impacts. I will examine how people relate to these issues through a particular perspective of a consumer identity. I could observe, from various statistical data, that the metropolises of Australia bear some characteristics of a core in terms of how and where from their inhabitants obtain goods and services. From this particular perspective I intend to inquire how individuals, who live in Melbourne, Australia, see themselves connected, through the experience of consumption, to the environmental and social costs their consumption is inflicted... (More)
In this thesis I set to examine, through the lenses of world-systems and ecological unequal exchange theories, stories of how individuals relate to their consumption and its environmental and social impacts. I will examine how people relate to these issues through a particular perspective of a consumer identity. I could observe, from various statistical data, that the metropolises of Australia bear some characteristics of a core in terms of how and where from their inhabitants obtain goods and services. From this particular perspective I intend to inquire how individuals, who live in Melbourne, Australia, see themselves connected, through the experience of consumption, to the environmental and social costs their consumption is inflicted in. With the use of qualitative interviews I will confront stories of two groups of people for whom consumption has played an important role but for two different reasons: people who are part of the network of the Ethical Consumer Group and people who define themselves as shoppers. The research questions that underpin my investigation are: How does a person who lives in a big city of Australia and identifies her/himself as a consumer position him/herself against the environmental and social impacts consumption brings? How does one describe possible ways of enacting their agency as a consumer? (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Olszewska, Julia LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM10 20121
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
world-systems, consumer, ecological unequal exchange, consumption, Melbourne, Australia
language
English
id
2535840
date added to LUP
2012-06-05 08:21:59
date last changed
2012-06-05 08:21:59
@misc{2535840,
  abstract     = {{In this thesis I set to examine, through the lenses of world-systems and ecological unequal exchange theories, stories of how individuals relate to their consumption and its environmental and social impacts. I will examine how people relate to these issues through a particular perspective of a consumer identity. I could observe, from various statistical data, that the metropolises of Australia bear some characteristics of a core in terms of how and where from their inhabitants obtain goods and services. From this particular perspective I intend to inquire how individuals, who live in Melbourne, Australia, see themselves connected, through the experience of consumption, to the environmental and social costs their consumption is inflicted in. With the use of qualitative interviews I will confront stories of two groups of people for whom consumption has played an important role but for two different reasons: people who are part of the network of the Ethical Consumer Group and people who define themselves as shoppers. The research questions that underpin my investigation are: How does a person who lives in a big city of Australia and identifies her/himself as a consumer position him/herself against the environmental and social impacts consumption brings? How does one describe possible ways of enacting their agency as a consumer?}},
  author       = {{Olszewska, Julia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Consumer in the world-systems: understanding narratives on environmental and social impacts of consumption from Melbourne, Australia.}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}