Doctoral Project:
I am interested in the consequences of small and medium-sized business
transnationalism in the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora. My current
focus is on how the Caribbean food trade to mainly Caribbean-Canadian
consumers in Canada contributes to agrarian conditions in Jamaica with
some reflection of cultural-economic implications in Canada as well. This
area of study begins to address my questions about the cultural embeddedness
of economies, how commodity traders and other actors assert social and
spatial positions towards self and group interests, the role of so-called
‘unproductive labour’ and rent in capitalism, as well as the
lessons of history in the under/development of markets. My tentative PhD
project will examine sites of production, marketing, wholesaling, retailing,
and consumption of African-origin yams from Trelawny and Hanover Jamaica
to Toronto, Canada. I am currently considering the prospects of using
institutional and value chain approaches.
Other Research Interests:
Capitalist and Non-Capitalist Development
History of the ‘Atlantic World’ and Cultural-Economic Change
Development Theory and Practice
Critical Theory
Past Research:
Alexander Lovell and Sara Shahsiah (2006), “Across Boundaries:
Mental Well-
being and Substance Use Among Youth of Colour”, Community-based
research report for Across Boundaries – An Ethno-racial Mental Health
Centre. Toronto.
Lovell, Alexander (2006) “How Scarborough’s Black Youth Access
Health Care
Services”, Community-based research report for Black Health Alliance.
Toronto.
Lovell, Alexander (2005) “Jane-Finch NGOs in a Period of Welfare
Devolution”.
Major Research Paper submitted for the completion of M.A. degree, York
University.
Conference Presentations:
Alexander Lovell and Dwaine Plaza (PhD), “Examining the Ethno-‘Racial’
Differences within the Caribbean-origin Population using the 2001 Canadian
Census”, presentation to 31st Annual Caribbean Studies Association
Conference (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad). June 1st.
Lovell, Alexander (2006), “Macro-economic Narratives and Rural
Caribbean Development Models: A Critical View”, presentation to
31st Annual CaribbeanStudies Association Conference (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad).
June 2nd.
Lovell, Alexander (2005), “Third Way to Where? Jane-Finch Nonprofits
in a Period of Welfare Devolution”, presentation to Canadian Association
of Geographers Conference (London, Canada). May 28th.
Supervisor: Dr. Beverley Mullings
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Alexander
M. Lovell (Ph.D. Candidate)