The International Political Economy of Coffee: From Juan Valdez to Yank’s Diner

The most severe frost of the twentieth century ravaged Brazilian coffee-growing areas in 1975–leading to a worldwide increase in coffee prices of more than 400 percent. This unique volume traces the political and economic effects of the frost from U.S. consumers to the world coffee market. By concentrating on a single commodity example, concepts of dependence and interdependence are exemplified and integrated–facilitating student understanding of the workings of international political economy.