Tracing Political Consumerism in Africa and the Middle East

This chapter provides an overview of political consumerism in Africa and the Middle East. Regarding the African continent, consumption is discussed in terms of lifestyle issues related to corruption and Western consumer cultures. In the Middle East and North Africa, political consumerism is closely related to religious controversies. Africa is also central in various global supply chains, such as those for food and minerals, which engage political consumerism activists in other parts of the world. This chapter uses the cases of organic food and Fairtrade to examine the roles of local producers, citizens, and civil society organizations in these global networks. The conclusion discusses specific characteristics of political consumerism in the region and questions whether (future) economic development will have an impact on political consumerism in Africa.