Global Consumerism – Past, Present & Future: Cocoa and Chocolate with Dr. Nikita Harwich

To inaugurate the new series "Global Consumerism – Past, Present & Future", IE School of Humanities, in collaboration with IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, welcomed Dr. Nikita Harwich—an esteemed French-Venezuelan historian and expert in Latin American economic history—as part of its Senior Fellows Program.

Over the course of several days, Dr. Harwich led a series of engaging events centered on the history and evolution of cocoa and chocolate as global commodities. The journey began at IE University's Segovia campus, where students joined Dr. Harwich in discussing his book The History of Chocolate, tracing cocoa's transformation from a 16th-century cultural item to a modern-day mass-market product.

The conversation continued at the IE Tower in Madrid, where Dr. Harwich was joined by Professor Manuel Lucena for a dialogue on pressing contemporary topics. These included the dominance of cocoa production in West Africa, its ecological footprint, and the socio-economic complexities of commercialization.

The visit concluded with a more intimate session with faculty and invited guests, where Dr. Harwich offered deeper insights into the cultural importance of cocoa and the long-term political and economic trends influencing its future.

This launch event set a strong precedent for the Global Consumerism Series, which will continue to explore how consumer goods shape and are shaped by global historical, economic, and political forces.