Subsistence and Resistance in the Consumption of Counterfeits in South Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22260732 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ronald H Irwin (0000-0002-0932-1367, University of Cape Town, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 190-206 |
| Publication date | 2025-05-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Transcultural Communication (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2749-4799 • E-ISSN: 2749-4799 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1515/jtc-2023-0006 |
| OpenAlex | W4403741979 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 17 |
Considerable exploration of the manufacture of counterfeit goods exists in literature, however very little can be found on their consumption. In part due to its location at the confluence between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean sea routes, South Africa finds itself awash in counterfeit products. Constrained by corruption that drives undue enrichment, spiraling wealth inequality, and enforcement that cannot stem the influx of counterfeit goods, South African consumers face an ever-increasing likelihood of unknowingly purchasing counterfeit goods. This paper explores the research gap by leveraging a blend of media theory, semiotics, economic models, Fisherian hauntology, and personal qualitative interviews to better add to this under-researched area. By mapping both the market for counterfeits and the dangers that make research prohibitive, this paper is able to reveal the modes of counterfeit consumption; subsistence consumption and resistance consumption. Key findings indicate that an inflection point where subsistence consumption might become resistance consumption, and vice versa. These same key findings further suggest an as-yet unnoticed tension between the Kuznets Curve and the Easterlin Paradox. In this regard, this paper forges an opportunity for the field of public relations to become a significant voice in currently pressing issues of socioeconomic and geopolitical importance
Agriculture · Archaeology · Biology · Geography · Social science · Sociology · Subsistence agriculture · African history and culture studies · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification · Ecology
| Highly cited | No |
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