Description
Despite their conventional framing as seemingly ‘natural’ disasters, food crises are driven and exacerbated by expressly political conditions. Today, violent conflict is believed to be the single greatest driver of food crises worldwide, while conflict-affected contexts are also host to the most severe food crises globally. Conflict, and the political dynamics that shape it, in turn, informs the parameters of humanitarian response, impedes effective aid delivery, and affects meaningful recovery. As a result, responses to food crises are not technical humanitarian endeavours alone. While there is growing recognition of the political drivers of food insecurity, and – separately – the political dimensions of humanitarian action, this panel brings the political dynamics of both drivers and responses into dialogue, exploring the relationship between political power, conflict, and food insecurity from onset to recovery. In doing so, we bring together papers that critically examine how political factors shape both food crises themselves and humanitarian responses to them. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this panel aims to foster critical discussion about how a more politically informed approach can improve understanding and anticipation of conflict-driven food crises, alongside effectiveness and long-term impact of humanitarian response.
