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This dissertation undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the Costa Rican banana industry, including a case study based on fieldwork at an independent banana plantation in Costa Rica's Atlantic zone. A basic premise is that a coherent understanding of the banana industry and its consequences can only be achieved through the appreciation of the complexity of its organization. That is, the Costa Rican banana industry is a political-economic, socio-cultural, and environmental system articulated through a high degree of interaction at the micro and macro levels. Modernization and world systems theories are shown to provide partial and insufficient accounts of the dynamics at work in the Costa Rican banana industry. An embedded model of world systems theory, which includes aspects of sustainable development, is proposed to address these concerns. The analysis at various levels is intended to support the argument that consideration of environmental dynamics must be addressed in future theoretical accounts of development. / Following world systems theory, the strong role of the banana transnationals within the industry and in relation to national development is examined. Other links between the Costa Rican banana industry and the broader international political economy are also examined, including the 'banana wars', as well as environmental issues, such as DBCP and other agrochemical usage. Significant changes in the Costa Rican banana industry since the 1980's are considered. These include: (1) a sharp increase in banana production, and an increase in independent banana producers, (2) the dissolution of the banana unions, and their replacement with a new system of labour relations (solidarismo); and (3) the recent concern for issues of environmental destruction. These changes, combined with the centrality of the banana industry to Costa Rican development, have resulted in significant consequences at the micro level. These are manifested in the organization of banana production and in operations on the plantation, as seen with respect to working conditions, quality control and of transnational power. In addition, environmental degradation, and underdevelopment and marginalization beyond the plantation are examined as direct consequences of the Costa Rican banana industry. This is supported with extensive ethnographic detail.

Despite the growth of secondary cities, there is still little written about these intermediate cities in the literature. This thesis addresses this gap by examining the growth of Puntarenas, one such secondary city in Costa Rica. / Within the framework of dependency theory and an historical background, this case study examines several factors which have affected the development of this city over the last three decades. An undiversified economy based on fishing, migration patterns, and Puntarenas' dependent relationship with the capital, San Jose, are analyzed in depth. / The study, which is based on interviews, statistical data, and published literature, suggests that although there has been some effort to limit the concentration of resources in the centre of the country and to develop secondary cities, these cities continue to be neglected by central powers and, for the most part, are only taken into account when they serve the interests of the centre.

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Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished