Fair trade certification and class formation in Nicaragua's coffee plantations

Focusing on the first Fair Trade USA-certified coffee plantation in Nicaragua, this paper examines its overlooked effects on class formation among coffee workers. It first explores the type of workers the certification aims to shape; second, their impact on short-term material interests; and third, the emergence of a distinct class with a conscious understanding of their struggles. I show how, by emphasizing economic aspects, the certification oversimplifies the complex and antagonistic relationship between workers and landowners. I argue that the 'market-driven' class formation resulting from certification can hinder workers' transition from a 'class-in-itself' (socio-economic category) to a 'class-for-itself' (political category). En se concentrant sur la premi & egrave;re plantation de caf & eacute; certifi & eacute;e Fair Trade USA au Nicaragua, cet article examine ses effets n & eacute;glig & eacute;s sur la formation de classes parmi les travailleurs du caf & eacute;. Premi & egrave;rement, il explore le type de travailleurs que la certification vise & agrave; former; deuxi & egrave;mement, leur impact sur les int & eacute;r & ecirc;ts mat & eacute;riels & agrave; court terme; et troisi & egrave;mement, l'& eacute;mergence d'une classe distincte ayant une compr & eacute;hension consciente de ses luttes. Je montre comment, en mettant l'accent sur les aspects & eacute;conomiques, la certification simplifie & agrave; l'exc & egrave;s la relation complexe et antagoniste entre les travailleurs et les propri & eacute;taires terriens. Je soutiens que la formation de classe "ax & eacute;e sur le march & eacute;" r & eacute;sultant de la certification peut entraver la transition des travailleurs d'une "classe en soi" (cat & eacute;gorie socio-& eacute;conomique) & agrave; une "classe pour soi" (cat & eacute;gorie politique).