The Politics of Global Supply Chains (PDF)

The Politics of Global Supply Chains analyses the changing
politics of power and distribution within contemporary global
supply chains. Drawing on over 300 interviews with farmers,
workers, activists, businesses and government officials in garment
and coffee sector supply chains, the book shows how the increased
involvement of non-state actors in supply chain governance is
re-shaping established patterns of global political power,
responsibility and accountability.

These emerging supply chain governance systems are shown to be
multi-layered and politically contested, as transnational
governance schemes interact with traditional state governance
arrangements in both complementary and conflicting ways. The
book's analysis of changes to the relationship between state
and non-state actors within transnational governance processes will
be of particular interest to scholars and students of
globalisation, global governance and regulation.

The Politics of Global Supply Chains also suggests some
practical ways by which the effectiveness and accountability of
supply chain governance could be strengthened, which will interest
both scholars and practitioners in fields of global business
regulation and corporate social responsibility. Conclusions are
relevant to the business and civil society actors who participate
directly in non-state governance schemes, and to state regulators
whose distinctive governance capacities could play a much greater
role than at present in supporting transnational, non-state
governance processes.