Theories of famine : from Malthus to Sen

Contents Figures Acknowledgements Introduction What is famine? 2.1 Dictionary definitions 2.2 Food shortage definitions 2.3 Famine as mass starvation 2.4 'Behavioural' definitions 2.5 'Insider* definitions 2.6 Conclusion Notes The evolution of famine theory 3.1 Act of God or act of man? 3.2 Supply failure or demand failure? 3.3 Famine theory: multiplicity and simplicity 3.4 Towards a taxonomy of famine theories Climate and famine 4.1 Climate and 'natural famine regions' 4.2 Drought and famine 4.3 Seasonality, vulnerability and famine 4.4 Conclusion The population monster 5.1 Malthusian theory 5.2 Critique and contra-Malthusian models 5.3 Neo-Malthusianism 5.4 Modem demographic arguments 5.5 Policy implications 5.6 Conclusion Appendix 5.1 A graphical representation of Malthus's model Notes The entitlement approach 6.1 The basic entitlement approach 6.2 Strengths of the entitlement approach 6.3 Entitlements versus income 6.4 Limitations of the entitlement approach 6.5 Conclusion Appendix 6.1 Entitlements and starvation: a graphical approach Notes Famine and food markets 7.1 Basic propositions 7.2 Market dependence and demand failure 7.3 Expectations, speculation and hoarding 7.4 Imperfect or fragmented markets 7.5 Conclusion Notes The management of natural resources 8.1 'Natural degradation' 8.2 indigenous ignorance' 8.3 'Malignant exploitation' 8.4 Conclusion Famine and development 9.1 Marginalization and development 9.2 Commoditization and market dependence 9.3 The moral economy meets colonial capitalism 9.4 Vulnerability as a 'phase of development* 9.5 Case study: the Sahelian famine, 1969-74 9.6 Conclusion Famine and government policy 10.1 Urban bias 10.2 Agricultural regulation 10.3 Response failure 10.4 Case study: the Soviet famine of 1932-4 10.5 Case study: the Chinese famine of 1958-61 10.6 Conclusion War and famine 11.1 Militarization 11.2 War 11.3 Refugees 11.4 Case study: the Netherlands, 1944 11.5 Conclusion Note Famine and international relations 12.1 International food markets 12.2 International responsibility and response 12.3 The politics of food aid 12.4 Case study: the 1974 Bangladesh famine 12.5 Conclusion Notes A summary of theories 13.1 Defining famine 13.2 Theories: background 13.3 FAD theories 13.4 Economic theories 13.5 Political economy explanations 13.6 Policy implications 13.7 Conclusion: determinants of vulnerability Bibliography Subject index Name index Drawing together in one volume the alternative explanations for famine, this book combines theory with political economy, and crystallizes many issues central to the understanding and management of famine. This volume reviews the major theories and critically examines alternative explanations for famine, describing their implications for preventive policies and corrective interventions