The Promised Transformation: Mexican Coffee Policies During the Administration of President López Obrador

Summary

This thesis analyses Mexican coffee policies during the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). It builds on approaches of state theories, agrarian political economy, and global value chain studies, and contributes to debates regarding the role of the state in small farmers’ livelihoods. The thesis is based on a case study analysing implementation of rural policies in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, and contains four empirical and analytical chapters. The aim of this thesis is to understand how a radical transformation that has been promised by the Mexican state influences social relationships among the state, small farmers, farmer organizations, and the coffee processing industry.