Slow food Riga: a case study on frames of inclusion and exclusion

Summary

Slow Food is a global social movement that arose in response to the cultural homogenization, taste standardization, and public health problems associated with fast food. It has made an interesting transition to solely focusing on gastronomy to a broader field that encompasses social justice activists and environmentalists. Despite this inclusive transition however, in a number of scientific articles, the movement has been subjected to criticism on its elitism and exclusivity. The aim of this thesis is to gain insight into the interplay between Slow Food members as well as Non-Slow Food members, focusing on a single case study of Slow Food in Riga. In specific, three different forms of framing (issue frames, identity frames and characterization frames) utilized by both groups will be analyzed. These frames can help identify inclusion and exclusion dynamics and its consequences. Using a conceptual as well as an analytical framework this thesis investigates how Slow Food emerges, what driving factors there are to join Slow Food, and what types of network dynamics can be found in the Slow Food movement. Using Framing as an analytical tool, inclusion and exclusion dynamics have been identified through methods such as semi-structured interviewing and participant observation. In Riga framing Slow Food has shown that there is not one single definition of Slow Food in use. The definition for Slow Food is very dependent on who says it, what position they hold in society and amongst peers, and in which context Slow Food is placed. SF members share common values with respect to Slow Food as local and quality, however collide on the frame that 100 % Slow Food is possible. Furthermore, Slow Food is personified by the SF founder to such an extent that he alienates and excludes others. In turn, Non-SF members however have accentuated this exclusivity, and characterize the SF founder based on a number of accusations as well, producing their own forms of exclusion. Slow Food Riga does have tendencies towards being exclusive and being a closed community. However it leans more into the direction of being a one-man show due to the position that the SF founder takes in SF Riga. More importantly, is that Non-SF members underline this exclusivity through the frames that they have constructed about Slow Food and the Slow Food movement. Also, the colliding frames with respect to Slow Food within SF Riga show that there is ambiguity about the SF identity and this in turn has a direct effect on how those outside of the SF Riga movement perceive them. Then, the position of Slow Food is strongly determined by the context it is placed in. While it may be popular in Italy or France, it seems that although Latvia is a perfect location for Slow Food, Non-SF members have demonstrated that there is not really necessity for it, due to its ‘foreign label’.