Papers by Mark Bauermeister
Rural Sociology, Jun 1, 2017
Rural America in a Globalizing World is the fourth decennial volume of the Rural Sociological Soc... more Rural America in a Globalizing World is the fourth decennial volume of the Rural Sociological Society's Rural Studies Series. The volume is separated into five parts, thematically organized around the socialstructural conditions produced through globalization and neoliberal policies affecting rural life. Each part delivers a critical analysis of rural experiences, while providing suggestions for applying future research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy development to mitigate social problems and bolster change. Alessandro Bonanno introduces the first part, setting the table for the reader with a historical account of the changing structure of agriculture over the last half of the twentieth century. Bonnano credits the upheaval of American agriculture to the economization of politics and the neoliberal mantra of "what is good for the market, is good for the people" (11). Chapter 1 builds upon the theme of neoliberalization by reviewing the industrialization of agriculture, highlighting vertical and horizontal concentrations of agrifood businesses. Douglas H. Constance and colleagues detail how this model favors transnational corporations, while reducing the market power of producers. The industrialization of agriculture has impacted farm production and size, as noted by Eric B. Jensen in chapter 2, whereby midsized farms are increasingly displaced by both large commodity producers and the rising small farm niche sector. Some producers in this disappearing middle have responded to adversity. Amy Guptill and Rick Welsh, in chapter 4, find that small and midsized farms tap into value chains to remain viable despite overarching norms of industrialization. Similarly, others are participating in agrifood movements to stay competitive and garner consumer support (see Claire Hinrichs and John Eshlemen in chapter 8). However, agrifood movements come with caveats, as the authors point out. The fracturing nature of multiple goals requires a framework in which multiple perspectives and strategies for challenging neoliberal agendas may align.
Social movement organizations in the local food movement: Linking social capital and movement sup... more Social movement organizations in the local food movement: Linking social capital and movement support
In the 20th century U.S. farming began to change its structure from an autonomous structure to a ... more In the 20th century U.S. farming began to change its structure from an autonomous structure to a co-dependent, and highly industrialized structure. Industrial farming pushed many farmers out of business, as they were unable to stay on the “tread mill ” of production that necessitated technology inputs and vast acreages to net larger yields for a meager return at the commodity market. Many farmers and their families were displaced into the neighboring cities and town to seek out work, often times in the burgeoning service sector that developed in the years after World War II. As a result, farmers and farming communities lost their connection to the land as the farming process became alienated from its producers and consumers. Urbanization increased and the remaining farms in the peripheries of urbanizing cities were increasingly in danger of being supplanted by urban development. Rising land valuations and taxes have made it difficult for farmers to continue their operations, leading...
The HOPE Collaborative, 2009
The HOPE Collaborative—Health for Oakland’s People and Environment—is a long-term project in Oakl... more The HOPE Collaborative—Health for Oakland’s People and Environment—is a long-term project in Oakland, California, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as one of nine Food and Fitness Initiative sites in the United States. The vision of the HOPE Collaborative is to create vibrant Oakland neighborhoods that provide equitable access to affordable, healthy, locally grown food; safe and inviting places for physical activity and play; sustainable, successful local economies—all to the benefit of the families and youth living in Oakland’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, those suffering the greatest impact from health disparities. HOPE’s mission is to create fundamental and sustainable environmental changes that will significantly improve the health and wellness of Oakland residents. A wide spectrum of organizations, institutions and community residents formed HOPE to improve health and quality of life by transforming the food and fitness environments in neighborhoods suffering the most from health disparities. The initial project funding supports an extensive planning process over two and one-half years to best determine the assets, opportunities, problems, wants and needs in Oakland’s most vulnerable neighborhoods and to develop a strong collaborative process with extensive community and youth engagement and leadership.
iii AKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW... more iii AKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 4 Farm Structure: A Brief Sketch of the Last Century 4 Mechanization 5 The New Deal 8 The War Effort 9 From Production and Manufacturing to Service 9 80’s Farm Crisis 11 Agriculture and the World-System 15 Connecting Community 19 The Movement Toward Sustainable Farming 23 Putting a Face on Food 24 Local Food: Defining Social Change 25 CHAPTER 3: THEORY 29 Gemeinschaft and Gessellschaft 30 Social Capital 31 Social Capital and Viable Farms 34 Bridging and Bonding 37
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 2015
ABSTRACT
Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-1... more Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-108).
Social movement actors seeking alternatives to the highly industrialized, global food system have... more Social movement actors seeking alternatives to the highly industrialized, global food system have been advocating for more sustainable, local food systems. Many of the local food movement strategies and initiatives to counter the conventional practices of the
industrial food system have proven successful. Social movement researchers have documented the importance of the roles and services social movement organizations provide
for movement constituents to realize their success, emphasizing human and financial capital
as key components for mobilizing collective action. Researchers have also documented the value of interorganizational networks, and the benefits of collaboration to expand the share of
resources, and perhaps more importantly design social movement frames to direct collective action for social change. However, what local food movement research has yet to address are some of the potential barriers that minimize collaboration among organizational leaders as it
relates to social capital and collective identity. This dissertation takes a cross-sectional, network analysis of social movement organizations working to increase the sustainability of
the local food system in Marin County, California, a historically agricultural region serving a
number of urban communities. Findings from the mixed-methods research reveal evidence of collective identity and social capital as enhancing collaboration among particular types of organizations while reducing potential collaboration among and between other social
movement organizations. By analyzing the collective identity and dichotomous nature of social capital among social movement organizations, this research contributes a clearer
understanding of the existing gaps for realizing a more sustainable local food system.
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Papers by Mark Bauermeister
industrial food system have proven successful. Social movement researchers have documented the importance of the roles and services social movement organizations provide
for movement constituents to realize their success, emphasizing human and financial capital
as key components for mobilizing collective action. Researchers have also documented the value of interorganizational networks, and the benefits of collaboration to expand the share of
resources, and perhaps more importantly design social movement frames to direct collective action for social change. However, what local food movement research has yet to address are some of the potential barriers that minimize collaboration among organizational leaders as it
relates to social capital and collective identity. This dissertation takes a cross-sectional, network analysis of social movement organizations working to increase the sustainability of
the local food system in Marin County, California, a historically agricultural region serving a
number of urban communities. Findings from the mixed-methods research reveal evidence of collective identity and social capital as enhancing collaboration among particular types of organizations while reducing potential collaboration among and between other social
movement organizations. By analyzing the collective identity and dichotomous nature of social capital among social movement organizations, this research contributes a clearer
understanding of the existing gaps for realizing a more sustainable local food system.
industrial food system have proven successful. Social movement researchers have documented the importance of the roles and services social movement organizations provide
for movement constituents to realize their success, emphasizing human and financial capital
as key components for mobilizing collective action. Researchers have also documented the value of interorganizational networks, and the benefits of collaboration to expand the share of
resources, and perhaps more importantly design social movement frames to direct collective action for social change. However, what local food movement research has yet to address are some of the potential barriers that minimize collaboration among organizational leaders as it
relates to social capital and collective identity. This dissertation takes a cross-sectional, network analysis of social movement organizations working to increase the sustainability of
the local food system in Marin County, California, a historically agricultural region serving a
number of urban communities. Findings from the mixed-methods research reveal evidence of collective identity and social capital as enhancing collaboration among particular types of organizations while reducing potential collaboration among and between other social
movement organizations. By analyzing the collective identity and dichotomous nature of social capital among social movement organizations, this research contributes a clearer
understanding of the existing gaps for realizing a more sustainable local food system.