Hunger in Global War Economies : Understanding the Decline and Return of Famines : Alex de Waal / Disasters ODI

Shared by Angela Raven Roberts

Greetings, here is the latest from Alex De Waal, a go at making sense of some key issues to do with aid and trade, as it were...enjoy.
Angela

Alex de Waal is the Executive Director, World Peace Foundation, at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University,

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Summary

Alex de Waal, examines the recent trend of famine resurgence by analysing the changing dynamics of global war economies. The article presents a historical framework that considers the impact of globalisation on famine, dividing it into two key periods: the "Pax Americana" (1986-2015) and the emergence of the BRICS club (2016 onwards). De Waal argues that while the Pax Americana, driven by US economic and military dominance, saw a significant decline in famine due to factors like liberalisation and increased access to food, it also created structural vulnerabilities that laid the groundwork for future food crises. This vulnerability, he argues, has been exacerbated by the BRICS's efforts to challenge the US dollar-based economic order, which has led to a scramble for resources and strategic infrastructure, ultimately intensifying conflict and food insecurity. De Waal’s primary aim is to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between war, economics and famine, highlighting the role of competing global war economies in shaping food insecurity and famine in the contemporary world.