Production of Norms and Securitization in Development Policies: From Human Security to Security Sector Reform | Ifi Working Paper

Working Paper | December 2012
Production of Norms and Securitization in Development Policies: From Human Security to Security Sector Reform by Penelope Larzilliere 
Several regional products have been very successful as region-based products, such as Saudi Dates, Jordanian Thyme, Syrian Barazi, Egyptian Foul Mdamas, and Lebanese Chick Pea paste (Homos Tahini). These trends of regionbased, Geographic indicator (GI) and governmental labeled products are considered to be an added value to agroindustrial sector, and are highly efficient tactics to increase small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) revenues. However, some agricultural products are correlated with persistent consumer’s socio-cultural purchasing behaviors, such as Lebanese olive oil and the friend-family network purchasing patterns. Many local and international NGO’s are seeking to liberate olive oil sector into modern market chain through packaged and labeled small sized bottles, without taking into consideration the Lebanese socio-cultural purchasing behavior of olive oil. In this research paper, a survey was done in the American University of Beirut (AUB) showing the willingness of the Lebanese consumers to try governmental labeled olive oil, and a regression then used with an econometric model using variables such as gender, age, occupation, and friend/family network role. The results show that females are more willing to try government labeled olive oil, and people who get advice about olive oil purchasing through their friend/family network are also more likely to try these products.