Organics Incorporated
Craig Upright
Department of Sociology
Princeton University
Chapter One: History of the Organic Social Movement to
1970
(Overview and outline, version 1-2; last revised 28 March 2005)
Goals of this chapter
Present a sociological history of organic agriculture from
the inception of the concept to the emergence of the first formal markets
selling organic foods (San Francisco 1965) -- the precursors to a more formal
(or at least identifiable Organic Food Industry (OFI). Identify the key
organizations and individuals involved in the development and definition of
this agricultural process.
Empirical Questions
·
How was 'organic agriculture' defined in 1965?
·
Did this arise as an oppositional process?
·
What changes in conventional farming led to the rise of organic
methods, theory, advocacy?
·
How did this process get turned into a product?
·
What were the key organizations and individuals involved with
o
developing standards for organic agriculture?
o
establishing organic food as a marketable product?
Theoretical Questions
·
How do we (as sociologists) define Social Problems?
·
How do Social Movements define Social Problems?
·
How do Social Movements define Solutions to Social Problems?
·
How is a Social Problem defined by a coalition of organizations?
·
How do Social Movements promote their solutions?
·
Why do Social Movements create organizations to pursue these
goals?
·
How do organizations within a social movement influence the
agendas and tactics of similar but competing organizations, or of oppositional
organizations?
·
What are the defining structural characteristics of such
influential organizations?
Outline
I.
Identifying
social movements
A.
Identifying a "social movement"
B.
Organic precursors – “sustainable agriculture”
C.
Identifying the "organic" social movement
D.
Defining the social problem
II.
Agricultural
chemistry and industrial agriculture
A.
Rothamsted Experimental Station
1.
Scientific
goals
2.
Social
goals
B.
Scientific management in agriculture
1.
Capitalist
orientation of new organizations
2.
Goals
of maximization of resources, but short-term focus
3.
Principles
of Industrialization
4.
Centralized
decision making
C.
World War I infrastructure -> fertilizers
D.
World War II infrastructure -> pesticides
III.
Early 20th century SASMs
A.
Rudolph Steiner -- "Bio-Dynamicism"
1.
Leader’s
background, motivation for founding movement
2.
Organization
details, history, scope, longevity
3.
Style
of leadership, organization hierarchy
B.
Richard St. Barbe Barker -- "Men of the Trees"
1.
Leader’s
background, motivation for founding movement
2.
Organization
details, history, scope, longevity
3.
Style
of leadership, organization hierarchy
C.
Sir Albert Howard
1.
Leader’s
background, motivation for founding movement
2.
Organization
details, history, scope, longevity
3.
Style
of leadership, organization hierarchy
D.
Sir Robert McCarron
1.
Leader’s
background, motivation for founding movement
2.
Organization
details, history, scope, longevity
3.
Style
of leadership, organization hierarchy
E.
J.I. Rodale -- Rodale Institute
1.
Leader’s
background, motivation for founding movement
2.
Organization
details, history, scope, longevity
3.
Style
of leadership, organization hierarchy
IV.
Later
20th century SASMs
A.
Counter-cultural "discovery" of organic foods in
the 1960s
1.
Initial
SF organizations, goals, scope (co-ops?)
B.
International movement founded: IFOAM
V.
Social
Movements revisited
A.
Organizational structures, goals, leadership
1.
Analysis
of 20th century SA SMOs
2.
Comparison
to industrialized–centralization models
B.
Resource Mobilization
1.
Analysis
of 20th century SA SMOs
2.
Financial
vs Membership resources
C.
Multi-organizational co-operation, competition
1.
Competition
for resources
2.
Common
definitions of social problem, solution
3.
Convergence
(or not) towards the organic paradigm
VI.
Conclusion