Environmental Science & Policy 331 - Seminar: Famine-A Global Political Ecology

This course examines cases of famine from across the globe. Although famine has long been conceived as arising from “natural” disasters like drought and pest infestations, recent work has suggested that human action may be more at play. In this course, we examine historical cases of famine to evaluate its causes and responses to it across different parts of the world. How did different societies conceive of and respond to ecological forces, and how did ecological forces change different societies? In examining several cases, we will have the opportunity to evaluate claims about famine’s human and/or natural provenance, as well as ideas about famine’s relationship to empire-building and state-making. To what extent have waves of hunger and starvation helped to secure the division between the Global South and Global North? Enrollment limited to 12. Juniors and seniors only. Instructor permission required. (E)

[CE] JR/SR only