Cocaine and Commodity Chains

Andean Cocaine, by Paul Gootenberg, traces the global commoditization of coca and cocaine utilizing a commodity chain approach. Gootenberg believes that coca and cocaine offer one of the best illustrations of the usefulness of the commodity chain approach. The author effectively ascribes agency to a multitude of actors throughout coca's early history as an Indian vice all the way to its contemporary position of illicit recreational drug. Gootenberg highlights the reciprocal flows of scientific research, culture, production, consumption, and politics through his analysis, while still paying attention to isolated regional developments in the social, political, and economic life of coca and its derivative. Of all the commodities we have studied so far, I believe that coca and cocaine provide some of the best examples of being socially and politically constructed. Coca, being initially reviled by the Peruvian state, skyrocketed to prominence when Peru needed an export following its war with Chile. Science and medicine further developed the meaning of coca and cocaine, meanings which varied depending on time and region (either national or transnational). Cocaine’s fall from grace and its subsequent resurrection as a powerful recreational narcotic was born out changing political and cultural climates. In Gootenberg’s introduction to his work, he expresses his hope that his research will offer a true historical analysis of this enigmatic substance in the midst of sensational and inaccurate reports. I believe that Gootenberg has succeeded in his endeavor, and his account is comprehensive, articulate, and a wealth of information for anyone interested in the study of coca or cocaine. Andean Cocaine will remain on my course syllabus.