Search

Over the past decade, famine and food insecurity have increased, yet there have been few articles with a critical analysis of their social and political dynamics. This special issue of Disasters aims to revive such analysis and to provide new insights. The special issue contains eight articles, with topics ranging from the role of global politics and neoliberal strategies, to sanctions, war, settler‐colonialism, elite capture and inequalities, actions of resistance and resilience, and the challenges of famine prevention in today's global political context. The papers provide both global and local analysis, with the latter covering Kashmir, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, and Syria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the world has faced a rapid rise in humanitarian needs and an increasing risk of famine. Given the potential threats posed by conflict, climate change, economic shocks, and other issues, it is important to be prepared for the possibility of new crises in the future. Drawing on key informant interviews and a literature review, this paper assesses the state of the art in famine prevention, examining a range of technical and political approaches and analysing emerging lessons. Based on the findings, it identifies five levels of famine prevention: (i) averting famine; (ii) anticipating famine; (iii) reducing famine risks; (iv) altering famine risks; and (v) preventing famine risks. The paper argues that the current focus only partially addresses a relatively narrow set of levels. It concludes that a more comprehensive approach that engages all five levels simultaneously could contribute to a global famine prevention framework for the twenty‐first century and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the years 1845-48 Belgium and the Netherlands suffered from famine as a result from potato blight. This article explores the question why this famine became a building block of Flemish identity leading to its inclusion in the Flemish canon, while the Dutch potato crisis still largeley remains forgotten. It is argued that the famine in Flanders was intrinsically linked with the ninenteenth-century Flemish movement, thereby contributing to the self-image of ‘’poor Flanders’’. By contrast, the emergence of Dutch identity goes further back in history and is mainly connected to prototypical disasters, such as floods. Famine did not suit this storyline and the ‘’superior’’ ability of the Dutch to manage the water. This article also stresses the need for transnational approaches in the study of famine memories. A comparative approach makes it possible to understand why the same type of traumatic event was forgotten relatively quickly in one case, and became part of the collective memory in the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Globality Without Mobility: Ephemera, 1830s–1860s" from the Journal of World History explores the history of globalization in the nineteenth century through the lens of ephemera, focusing on single-page prints that circulated in Tokugawa Japan. These prints, known as imitation rankings, captured disasters, calamities, and societal changes in a concise and visually appealing manner. The article highlights how these ephemera, despite being locally produced and consumed, reflect global trends in the circulation of information and the transformation of print culture. The study sheds light on the interconnectedness of global publishers facing similar challenges and devising innovative tactics to navigate a rapidly changing world. [Extracted from the article]

The concept of conviviality, introduced by Ivan Illich in his book Tools for Conviviality (1973), offers a solution to the counterproductive effects of fast transport. It is now widely recognized that fast transport does not save time for individuals and communities but rather increases the feeling of time famine and ultimately leads to greater energy consumption to travel longer distances. In today's context of urban time famine and ecological crisis, I show that Illich's system of thought finds empirical validity. An inductive approach in nine "Cittàslow" labeled European cities demonstrates that a slow pace of life and mobility contributes to the maintenance of friendly or convivial relations. Incorporating slow mobility policies into the broader framework of convivial cities could become a key instrument in the transition to a more sustainable path, while also offering prospects for future lifestyles that people find desirable. The article concludes by arguing that the pursuit of conviviality in cities can help promote slow mobility and sustainable living, ultimately contributing to a more environmentally conscious and socially connected society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document provides a detailed report on the Economic and Social History Society of Ireland's activities in 2023, including the officers, journal updates, and the annual conference held at University College Dublin. It lists the papers presented at the conference, covering a wide range of topics from taxation and state-building to female bank workers and LGBTQ+ emigrant experiences. The report highlights the society's commitment to exploring diverse aspects of Irish economic and social history, acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the society and journal in upcoming volumes. [Extracted from the article]

The United Nations has defined 17 SDGs aimed at addressing fundamental human needs. While the SDGs are relevant to all countries and communities worldwide, they hold particular significance to Ethiopia. Scientific research dedicated to a specific country, or a region therein plays a crucial role in identifying the necessary interventions, planning appropriate courses of action, and monitoring progress toward achieving the SDGs. A considerable amount of scientific research directly or indirectly related to the SDGs, has been conducted on Ethiopia, but the research is fragmented and a clear overview of its focus and impact on the SDGs is lacking. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive review of all available scientific literature on the former province of Wollo, which was the site of one of the most infamous famines in recent times. We found 1591 relevant studies, classified, and analyzed them based on their relevance to the SDGs. Our results indicate that while there has been a significant increase in scientific research in recent years, the focus has been skewed toward a few goals and limited targets within them. Specifically, SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) have received significantly more attention. Further analysis also reveals misplaced priorities indicating a misalignment between scientific research and the needs of the study area. We conclude that while we approach 2030, the deadline for the SDGs, considerable attention must be given to the prioritization of SDGs in scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise estimates of the impact of famine on infant and child mortality are rare due to lack of representative data. Using vital statistics reports on the Netherlands for 1935–47, we examine the impact of the Dutch famine (November 1944 to May 1945) on age-specific mortality risk and cause of death in four age groups (stillbirths, <1 year, 1–4, 5–14) in the three largest famine-affected cities and the remainder of the country. Mortality during the famine is compared with the pre-war period January 1935 to April 1940, the war period May 1940 to October 1944, and the post-war period June 1945 to December 1947. The famine's impact was most visible in infants because of the combined effects of a high absolute death rate and a threefold increase in proportional mortality, mostly from gastrointestinal conditions. These factors make infant mortality the most sensitive indicator of famine severity in this setting and a candidate marker for comparative use in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1867–1868 northern Sweden suffered from a famine that has not gained much scholarly interest. Here we study how this famine was relieved in Västerbotten county. We use unique regional and local administrative sources alongside other contemporary reports. Our results show that the relief quantities coming into Västerbotten county were significant, in proportion to the size of the population, the depth of the harvest failure, and in relation to historical state aid. In addition, we reveal the complex interplay between the state, market, and civil society that, at least on the county level, contributed to a seemingly efficient administration for alleviating the effects of harvest failure. However, our results point to bottlenecks in the administration of relief at the local municipal level, which call for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does pre-war trauma impact battlefield behaviour? I study Irish troops in the American Civil War who experienced the Potato Famine over a decade prior. I use birth cohorts, sibling birth order, adult height, and the geography of last names in Ireland to measure famine exposure within the Irish group at the level of individual soldiers. Each strategy indicates that famine exposure increases desertion. Developing and testing observable implications from theory, I show that heightened risk aversion is the most plausible mechanism. Once soldiers are socialized into active combat through collective risk-sharing the famine effect dissipates. This research contributes to our understanding of the causes of contentious behaviour, how the behavioural legacies of atrocities play-out sans partisanship, and the importance of pre-migration experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows that local officials' personal preferences formed through early‐life experience affects Chinese housing sector development. We exploit a county‐level panel between 2000 and 2007 and use the Great Famine in 1959–1961 in China as a natural experiment. Our specification exploits the spatial variation in the early‐life exposure to the famine, and shows that local officials' early‐life exposure to more severe famine leads to significantly less development in the housing sector in their jurisdictions. Our findings remain robust to alternative specifications, placebo tests, and competing hypotheses. Furthermore, we employ satellite nightlight data to show that the early‐life famine experience of local officials is negatively correlated with the extent of statistical data manipulation, indicating changing risk attitudes due to early‐life famine experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Studying social impacts and responses to historical extreme climate events can offer valuable insights into coping with major disaster events and adapting to climate change better. This paper developed a model of the processes and responses to extreme drought-induced famines in ancient China. Based on this, the study explored the differences in famine causation and response effectiveness between Chenghua Drought (1483–1486 CE) and Wanli Drought (1585–1588 CE). The findings are as follows: (1) By the time of Wanli Drought, the increase in land reclamation and introduction of American crops had enhanced societal defence, preventing many drought-affected counties from experiencing famine. Even in cases where famines did occur, their severity was lower than during the Chenghua Drought. (2) State emergency measures, including exemption and relief, proved effective in mitigating famines. The stronger finance and economy during the Wanli Drought enabled more robust relief efforts, resulting in lower famine severity. (3) Famine response capabilities varied regionally. Shandong, Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei demonstrated strong defensive capabilities and effective state emergency responses, while Shanxi had weaker defensive abilities, making it more vulnerable to famine. The defensive capabilities in Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia showed significant improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research question/issue: This paper studies the relationship between chief executive officers' (CEOs) personal experiences and corporate innovation in China. Research findings/insights: We find that CEOs' famine and military experiences adversely impact firm innovation outcomes. In particular, our channel tests show that CEOs with famine experience adversely affect firm innovation by reducing both R&D expenditures and innovation efficiency, whereas CEOs with military experience hinder innovation mainly by reducing research staff. Theoretical/academic implications: Our results imply that innovation conservatism in some firms may be partly explained by individual CEO's early‐life personal experiences. Our study thus has broader implications for the differences in management style across corporate executives who go through different experiences. Practitioner/policy implications: Our findings provide important insights for policy makers, suggesting that they should consider CEOs' early‐life exposure to different experiences as important "soft information" when evaluating firms' innovation potential for government subsidies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on archival sources and previously underexplored famine testimonies, this article provides the first study of gender and women's experiences during the Kazakh famine. First, I provide a discussion of motherhood in this time of catastrophe. Traditional parental norms collapsed in a similar way to other catastrophes across the world. The second part of the article offers a discussion of who survived the famine. I argue that many parents preferred saving their sons at the expense of their daughters and consequently more boys survived the famine than girls. Son preference manifested itself strongly in the catastrophic years of famine as saving a man's lineage was deemed to be essential. The last part discusses sexual violence and sexual barter. I show that rape and prostitution were relatively less widespread in Kazakhstan, while sexual violence and barter frequently took a different form. Instead of directly raping women, abusers usually forced women to marry them as second wives. Unlike many examples in world history, sexual barter usually took place not between women and men, but between abuser men and male relatives of female victims. Son preference and the sale of women are reflections of how strongly patriarchal the nomadic society was. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short-term impact of famines on death and disease is well documented, but estimating their potential long-term impact is difficult. We used the setting of the man-made Ukrainian Holodomor famine of 1932-1933 to examine the relation between prenatal famine and adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This ecological study included 128,225 T2DM cases diagnosed from 2000 to 2008 among 10,186,016 male and female Ukrainians born from 1930 to 1938. Individuals who were born in the first half-year of 1934, and hence exposed in early gestation to the mid-1933 peak famine period, had a greater than twofold likelihood of T2DM compared with that of unexposed controls. There was a dose-response relationship between severity of famine exposure and increase in adult T2DM risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Famine exposure in childhood is proven to be associated with multiple chornic disease in adult but has not been studied with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Aims: This study was conducted to identify the relationship between famine exposure during infancy and childhood – specifically, the Chinese famine of 1959–1961 – and the risk of adult‐onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Chinese individuals. Methods: This study included 2937 individuals from the Qingdao Diabetes Prevention Program. They were stratified by birth year into infancy‐exposed (1956–1958), childhood‐exposed (1950–1955) and unexposed (1963–1971) groups. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. CKD was defined as an eGFR of <90 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results: The mean eGFR values for the infancy‐exposed and childhood‐exposed groups were 107.23 ± 12.53 and 103.23 ± 12.44 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively, both of which were lower than that of the unexposed group (114.82 ± 13.39 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.05). In the crude model, the odds ratio (OR) for CKD was 2.00 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39–2.88) in the infancy‐exposed group and 2.92 (95% CI: 2.17–3.93) in the childhood‐exposed group. Further adjustments for urban/rural residence, body mass index, age, current smoking, type 2 diabetes, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol did not significantly alter the association between famine exposure and CKD. The corresponding ORs were 1.71 (95% CI: 1.17–2.50) and 2.48 (95% CI: 1.81–3.40) for the infancy‐exposed and childhood‐exposed groups respectively. Conclusions: Famine exposure during infancy and childhood is associated with a long‐term decline in eGFR and an increased adult‐onset CKD risk. Early intervention for high‐risk individuals may mitigate the risk of adult‐onset CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision makers on famine and food policy may be influenced by myths, some of which reappear after being refuted. The subject of famine is highly emotive and politically charged which means that many authors cherry‐pick or invent evidence, suppress evidence or use bad economics. Daoud's (2018) paper 'Synthesizing the Malthusian and Senian approaches on scarcity: A realist account' contains many falsehoods supporting myths, both misrepresentations of what people have written on the 1943 Bengal famine (suggestio falsi) and suppression of what they did say (suppressio veri). The statistics are unacceptable. The claims about the Malthusian approach are untenable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exposure to famine in the prenatal period is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. We employed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic profiling to identify the metabolic changes that are associated with survival of prenatal famine exposure during the Dutch Famine at the end of World War II and subsequently assess their link to disease. Methods: NMR metabolomics data were generated from serum in 480 individuals prenatally exposed to famine (mean 58.8 years, 0.5 SD) and 464 controls (mean 57.9 years, 5.4 SD). We tested associations of prenatal famine exposure with levels of 168 individual metabolic biomarkers and compared the metabolic biomarker signature of famine exposure with those of 154 common diseases. Results: Prenatal famine exposure was associated with higher concentrations of branched-chain amino acids ((iso)-leucine), aromatic amino acid (tyrosine), and glucose in later life (0.2–0.3 SD, p < 3 × 10−3). The metabolic biomarker signature of prenatal famine exposure was positively correlated to that of incident type 2 diabetes from the UK Biobank (r = 0.77, p = 3 × 10−27), also when re-estimating the signature of prenatal famine exposure among individuals without diabetes (r = 0.67, p = 1 × 10−18). Remarkably, this association extended to 115 common diseases for which signatures were available (0.3 ≤ r ≤ 0.9, p < 3.2 × 10−4). Correlations among metabolic signatures of famine exposure and disease outcomes were attenuated when the famine signature was adjusted for body mass index. Conclusions: Prenatal famine exposure is associated with a metabolic biomarker signature that strongly resembles signatures of a diverse set of diseases, an observation that can in part be attributed to a shared involvement of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The PELICan hypothesis speaks to the role of perinatal and early life stressors (including malnutrition) in the causation of young-onset cancers. To date, there is no evidence correlating perinatal malnutrition and the risk of young-onset cancer. The Great Famine of China was a significant event in human history. The present study compared the incidence of young-onset cancers in individuals born during and just after the famine to those born prior to the famine. Perinatal exposure to famine, especially in females, was associated with a higher risk of young-onset cancer. This was particularly evident for young-onset genitourinary cancers. Background/Objectives: Perinatal exposure to malnutrition has been hypothesised to influence the development of young-onset cancer (≤50 years of age). This study aimed to determine if perinatal malnutrition in individuals exposed to the Great Famine of China increased their risk of developing young-onset cancer compared to other individuals born prior to the famine. Subjects/Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 7272 participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey who were classified into four groups based on birth year: participants born between 1953 and 1955 (before the famine) were designated as the pre-famine group (unexposed); the remainder formed perinatal exposure groups comprised of those exposed during the famine (1959–1961), those exposed in the early post-famine period (1962–1964), and those exposed in the late post-famine period (1965–1967). Multivariable adjusted log-binomial regression models were used to calculate the RR and 95% CI of young-onset cancer (including genitourinary cancer) across four groups. Results: Perinatal exposure to early post-famine (RR 2.08; 95%CI 1.04, 4.34; p = 0.043) and the female sex (RR 15.6, 95%CI 4.54, 60.3; p < 0.001) were noted to have a significantly increased risk of young-onset cancer. In addition, the early (RR 13.8; 95%CI 2.68, 253; p = 0.012) and late post-famine (RR 12.3; 95%CI 2.16, 231; p = 0.020) cohorts demonstrated a significantly increased risk of young-onset genitourinary cancer. The latter was accompanied by an increased risk of hypertension (RR 3.30; 95%CI 1.28, 7.87; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Perinatal exposure to famine, especially in females, was associated with a higher risk of young-onset cancer. This was particularly evident for young-onset genitourinary cancers. These findings highlight the potential long-term impact of perinatal malnutrition on young-onset carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to the study of historical and demographic aspects of famine in Kazakhstan between 1921 and 1923. The victims of the famine numbered in the deaths of thousands and caused irreparable losses. The purpose of the article is to conduct a historical and comparative analysis of the demographic consequences of famine. The research tasks include a comparative analysis of famine using archival documents, census materials and statistical data. In addition, the method of demographic analysis of the consequences of the famine, the scale of the damage and their impact on the life of the indigenous population of the republic will be applied. The distinctive feature of the research methodology is the systematization of statistical data on famine in various dimensions and modules. The findings of the study showed that the use of a comparative method to study the demographic consequences of famine contributes to a deeper study of this topic. The results obtained through qualitative analysis using statistical data served as an empirical basis for compiling a more complete demographic picture of famine in the 1920s of the 20th century in Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the twenty-first year of Wanli's reign period in the Ming Dynasty, the breach of the river banks along the Yellow River resulted in catastrophic devastation in Henan, directly causing the famine in Henan. Subsequently, Yang Dongming penned Illustration of Starving Citizens, a poignant memorial, to the emperor, articulating the harrowing plight of people in Yucheng with the disaster. His narrative vividly portrayed the relentless onslaught of floodwaters, the decimation of crops, and the destitution endured by displaced masses. Yang Dongming's masterful integration of illustrations and vernacular prose made the Emperor of Wanli dispatch officials for relief efforts, thus mitigating the anguish inflicted upon the populace of Henan in the aftermath of the flood calamity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of famine is rising in many countries today. Bold changes to famine information and response systems are urgently needed to improve capacities to prevent famine. To this end, the paper identifies six insights from social‐ecological systems (SES) thinking for understanding and preventing famine. It argues that a state of famine emerges from human–environment interdependencies, complex causality, and non‐linear system dynamics, shaped by history and context. The likelihood of famine can be reduced by strengthening resilience to the diverse stresses and shocks that drive destitution, food insecurity, undernutrition, morbidity, and mortality. SES thinking offers new opportunities to understand the dynamics of famine, diagnose lesser‐known drivers, pinpoint new metrics, ascertain leverage points for intervention, and develop conceptual frameworks to inform policy. SES concepts and methods could also support the development of practical analytical tools to guide decisionmakers on how, where, and when to intervene most effectively and efficiently to strengthen resilience to the drivers of famine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research reflection is to revisit the foundations upon which we constitute our understanding of the good life. Specifically, we think it is important for our field to unmoor itself from the myth that the advent of agriculture led to increased leisure time. To make our case, we recount two strikingly different narratives of the settings in which leisure is proported to flourish that we believe help us make sense of the current 21st century paradox of the most technologically advanced globalized society yearning for leisure, but endlessly falling short of its aspirations. In contrast, we revisit ethnographies of the Ju/'hoansi, hunter-gatherers in the Kalahari Desert of sub-Saharan Africa. Despite cyclical famine, drought, colonial incursions and de facto post-colonial rule, the Ju/'hoansi held superior leisure time to people living in Western societies, begging the question of why our field has paid them so little attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Bengal Famine of 1770 took 10 million lives. The British East India Company's (EIC) extraction of resources and imposition of brutal tax policies in Bengal exacerbated the disaster. By exploring the intersections of corporate interests, colonialism, and biopolitics, this paper provides a new perspective on the Bengal famine of 1770 by introducing and visualizing it through a unique theoretical framework—corporate colonial biopolitics. Adopting Michel Foucault's notion of biopolitics, my focus is primarily on the corporate colonial biopolitical strategies enforced by the Company, which led to dispossession, violence, and resource extraction exploiting Bengal's landscape and impeding the region's progress and development. The essay unveils the racist policies and profit-driven principles of the EIC and how they prioritized generating revenues, financing its military, and exporting food grain even at the peak of the famine. I point out how the EIC systematically dismantled the Indian agricultural system, fueling deindustrialization in India and ultimately making the region vulnerable to famines. The Bengal famine of 1770 remains unexplored by geographers despite being the first colonial famine in India. One of the primary objectives of this paper is to bridge this gap by shedding light on the geographical dimensions of this pivotal historical catastrophe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the human toll of the 1944–1945 famine in Java, Indonesia's main island. It estimates birth and death rates for the Indonesian population in Java during 1941–1951. Using the net population loss method, the article approximates a net loss of 3.3 million people during the 1942–1945 Japanese occupation period. This includes 1.8 million excess deaths; 0.7 million during 1944 and 1.1 million during 1945. The remainder are 1.4 million missing births in 1944 and 1945, associated with the malnutrition of women of childbearing ages and physical separation of wives from husbands recruited by Japanese authorities for forced labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the medical assistance provided by the American Relief Administration (ARA) in Katerynoslav region during the famine of 1921–1923. It delves into the multifaceted approach employed by the ARA in addressing the healthcare needs of the local population amidst the devastating famine. The study explores the establishment of medical facilities, distribution of medicines, organization of medical personnel, and collaboration with local health authorities. Drawing upon archival materials, historical documents, and scholarly works, the article offers a comprehensive analysis of ARA’s medical relief efforts. It assesses the impact of these initiatives on the health outcomes of the affected population and evaluates the effectiveness of ARA’s interventions in mitigating the health crisis during the famine period. Despite its relatively short presence in Katerynoslav region (January 1922 — July 1923), the ARA made significant contributions to the modernization of local medical institutions, providing them with contemporary medicines, equipment, and organizing effective measures against epidemic diseases in the region. The ARA’s medical program covered every corner of Katerynoslav gubernia. Over 800 institutions received medicines, clothing, blankets, instruments, bandages, and more, which played a crucial role in containing the epidemics that had ravaged these regions a year prior. Six percent of the total quantity of medicines imported into Russia and Ukraine were distributed in Katerynoslav gubernia. By shedding light on the intricacies of ARA’s medical assistance program in Katerynoslav region, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of humanitarian relief efforts during the early 20th century. It underscores the importance of medical aid in alleviating suffering and promoting public health during times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the economic and social situation of Eritrea from 1914 to 1922. Despite its distance from the battlefields, the impact that the Great War had on the country was significant. In addition to the troops sent to Libya, all available resources were sacrificed for the war effort. In this period the population had to deal with a marked deterioration in living conditions, and the war years passed amidst famine, shortages and dramatic price increases. Once the conflict ended, the negative spiral, instead of easing, worsened, plunging Eritrea into an even deeper economic crisis. Among the consequences of this situation was a rapid embrace of fascism among the settlers of Eritrea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate whether early-life exposure to the Great Famine of 1959–1961 in China was associated with the risk of digestive system cancer. The prospective cohort study involved 17 997 participants from the Kailuan Study (Tangshan, China) that began in 2006. All participants were divided into three groups based on their date of birth. The unexposed group (born from 1 October 1962 to 30 September 1964), fetal-exposed group (born from 1 October 1959 to 30 December 1961), and early-childhood-exposed group (born from 1 October 1956 to 30 December 1958). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the association between early famine exposure and digestive system cancer. During the mean follow-up period of (10.4 ± 2.2) years, a total of 223 digestive system cancer events occurred. Including 54 cases in the unexposed group (62.14/100 000 person-years), 57 cases in the fetal-exposed group (114.8/100 000 person-years), and 112 cases in the early-childhood-exposure group (122.2/100 000 person-years). After adjusting covariates, compared with the unexposed group, the HR and 95% CI were 1.85 (1.28, 2.69) for participants in the fetal-exposed group and 1.92 (1.38, 2.66) for participants in the early-childhood-exposed group. No interactions were observed in our study. After classifying digestive system cancers, the HR and 95% CI were 2.02 (1.03, 3.97) for colorectal cancer for participants in the fetal-exposed group and 2.55 (1.43, 4.55) for participants in the early-childhood-exposed group. The HR and 95% CI were (1.13, 3.83) of liver cancer for participants in the fetal-exposed group and 1.15 (0.63, 2.10) for participants in the early-childhood-exposed group. Early-life famine exposure was associated with a higher risk of digestive system cancer in adulthood. Fetal-exposed individuals might increase the risk of colorectal cancer and liver cancer, and early childhood-exposed might increase the risk of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural yield fluctuations caused by environmental and social factors in ancient China have been well recorded in extensive ancient documents; however, comparatively little is known archaeologically. This study revealed the consumption and utilization of staple cereal and possible famine food by Han Dynasty inhabitants in the Guanzhong area based on archeobotanical evidence, including plant macro‐remains and phytoliths uncovered from pottery granaries and isotopic evidence from human bone collagen from Miaojiazhai cemetery. This preliminary multidisciplinary research with clear archaeological contexts provides archaeological evidence to reveal the food diversification and indicate that the possible occurrence and coping strategies to mitigate fluctuations in agricultural yields in Han Dynasty Guanzhong and broaden the understanding of the Han Dynasty agricultural economies and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On August 15, 2021, American military forces withdrew from Kabul, and the sanctioning of Afghanistan began. Marred by the usual problems—ineffective, counterproductive, unwieldy—these sanctions revealed three additional puzzles. First, although grounded in targeted sanctions, they transformed into de facto comprehensive sanctions. Secondly, that transformation was instantaneous and unprompted. Thirdly, a near-famine followed within weeks. I make nested analytical, functional, and explanatory arguments. The analytical argument is that targeted sanctions are best understood not as tools of international coercion but primarily as domestic regulations. The functional argument is that the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) uses tactical and strategic ambiguity to maximize its regulatory reach over financial intuitions, humanitarian aid organizations, and money transfer organizations. The explanatory argument returns to the puzzles. I argue that, without any signal from OFAC, which was the signal, and reflecting OFAC's regulatory domination, when the Taliban took Kabul, the international financial community, humanitarian aid organizations, and remittance providers all dissociated from Afghanistan with immediate effect and particularly acute consequences on food entitlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Southern Europe in the age of revolutions" by Maurizio Isabella explores the political and social changes that occurred in Southern Europe during the 19th century. The author examines the impact of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars on the region, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The book discusses the transformation of civil-military relations, the rise of patriotism, and the debates over constitutional rights and government. It also explores the struggles for independence in the Balkans and the Greek War of Independence. The author emphasizes the complex interplay between revolution and counter-revolution, as well as the diverse motivations and perspectives of different individuals and communities. The book highlights the role of religion, ethnicity, and social class in shaping political movements and conflicts. Overall, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the political and social dynamics of Southern Europe during this period. [Extracted from the article]

The widespread destruction and the devastating humanitarian toll caused by the ongoing war on Gaza have transformed this besieged Strip into a place of death and despair. This review will explore the implications of this war for food security, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which seeks to fight malnutrition and food insecurity and achieve zero hunger by 2030. This work is based on a review of grey literature, such as reports from government and nongovernmental agencies, as well as recent scientific journal publications. Our results show that the ongoing war on Gaza has exacerbated the already acute food insecurity that Gazans have been struggling with since the blockade was imposed in 2007. Restless bombardment and ground operations have damaged or even razed agricultural land and all food production infrastructure (such as bakeries, mills, and food processing facilities), destroying Gaza's food system. Facing catastrophic levels of hunger, some families, especially in northern Gaza have recently been resorting to eating animal feed and weeds to survive. With the starvation of civilians being used as a method of warfare, many experts and human rights organizations argue that Gaza is now the world's worst hunger crisis and its population is on the verge of famine, if not already there. Moreover, this unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza could have significant consequences on global food security in its six pillars, jeopardizing the implementation of SDG 2. While international organizations are making efforts to mitigate the catastrophic food shortage and famine, more comprehensive and sustainable solutions are needed to address the root causes of food insecurity in Gaza and ensure that all residents have access to an adequate and nutritious diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-employment is a field of special importance to developing countries in view of its positive role on socio-economic development. This study exploits a unique nationally representative database using the 1949–1985 China Demographic Data, the 2016 China Labour Force Dynamic Survey, and the 1959–1999 China Drought Disaster Data. Through a difference-in-differences estimation, we reveal that the Great Chinese Famine bear significantly upon individuals' self-employment decisions. Specifically, a 1% increase in famine intensity results in a 3.89% and 2.31% decrease in the probability of self-employment and self-employed entrepreneurs entering the agricultural sector, respectively. Using rainfall as an instrument, we further show that the documented relationship is causal. Overall, we provide strong empirical evidence that famine exposure significantly affects one's self-employment decisions, and can help design policies aiming to promote self-employment and the development of small businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes frequently experience nutrient deprivations in the natural environment and may enter dormancy. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is known to establish long-term infections in humans. This study examined the dormancy-like phenotype of an A. actinomycetemcomitans strain D7S-1 and its isogenic smooth-colony mutant D7SS. A tissue culture medium RPMI-1640 was nutrient-deficient (ND) and unable to support A. actinomycetemcomitans growth. RPMI-1640 amended with bases was nutrient-limited (NL) and supported limited growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans less than the nutrient-enriched (NE) laboratory medium did. Strain D7S-1, after an initial 2-log reduction in viability, maintained viability from day 4 to day 15 in the NL medium. Strain D7SS, after 1-log reduction in viability, maintained viability from day 3 to day 5. In contrast, bacteria in the NE medium were either non-recoverable (D7S-1; >6-log reduction) or continued to lose viability (D7SS; 3-log reduction) on day 5 and beyond. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that A. actinomycetemcomitans in the NL medium formed robust biofilms similar to those in the NE medium but with evidence of stress. A. actinomycetemcomitans in the ND medium revealed scant biofilms and extensive cellular damage. We concluded that A. actinomycetemcomitans grown in the NL medium exhibited a dormancy-like phenotype characterized by minimum growth, prolonged viability, and distinct cellular morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When disaster occurred in Qing Dynasty, some of the rich people, say gentry and merchants, were willing to make great contributions on relief. According to sources, donations for relief had some benefits for them. Not merely can they gain official titles with self-identity and superiority, but can convert “cultural capital” into upwardly mobile political chances and strengthen a say in local politics, propelling them into positions of power. Therefore, when making a substantial payment on relief, in exchange, contributors using symbols paid attention on the importance of cultural hegemony in maintaining their positions in local society. The observation of the relief donation in the Qing Dynasty made it a site to study not just how people dealt with the famine policy within structure and what the social mechanism at the time developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 1167 II. THE ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL ECONOMY OF EXPORT CONTROLS 1174 A. Rising Real Food Prices 1174 B. Response to Food Price Spikes 1176 C. [...], The world is currently gripped in a food crisis of historic proportions that is threatening tens of millions of people in the poorest countries of the world with famine and starvation. Sparked by the war in Ukraine, this crisis is being made worse by nations imposing export restrictions on food in a misguided attempt to curb soaring domestic food prices. Export restrictions are 'beggar-thy-neighbor' policies that prevent increases in domestic food prices but at the expense of raising world prices, exacerbating the crisis. Although nations have turned to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for help in removing these export restrictions, the WTO is currently an organization in disarray that lacks the legal tools and the political will to effectively address this global crisis. Unlike the WTO, many free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (EU), contain effective legal tools to curb export restrictions on food. At the moment, FTAs are proliferating all over the world and have now displaced the WTO as the most effective means for eliminating or overcoming export restrictions on food. It is now up to the EU and the United States, the principals of the world's most robust FTAs, to take the lead in demonstrating how FTAs can be used to effectively to combat a catastrophic food emergency. This Article proposes an innovative solution through the use of FTAs by the United States and the EU to create a free trade conduit for food exports to meet demand in world markets without a spike in prices in a time of crisis.

Almost all Middle Eastern nations now struggle with malnutrition and allocate a significant portion of their oil earnings to food. In addition to already challenging and changing climate and water pressure, ongoing conflict and the war atmosphere, poverty, a lack of purchasing power, and pandemic diseases in the region all seem to play a role. However, the deepening of Russia's conflicts with Ukraine in recent years has made matters worse for the hungry in this fragile region and placed even self-sufficient nations in a precarious position. This paper addresses the Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative, which was implemented through diplomatic measures hosted by Türkiye and guaranteed the secure transportation of Ukrainian grain to international markets. The study begins with a thorough discussion of the origins and effects of food insecurity in Middle Eastern countries. The second part examines the impact of this initiative on regional politics. To address the current issue, an integrated approach built on comprehension of cause-and-effect interactions has been implemented. The findings were gathered using a data collection technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the interconnections and interrelations between food, waste, people and state during a series of survival crises in the famines of 1921–3, 1932–3 and 1946–7 in Soviet Ukraine. Owing to grain and food requisitions, the collectivization of agriculture and rationing, as part of the state's growing control over the flow of economic resources from the 1920s to the 1940s, discarded food acquired particular importance for people's survival during these times of extremes. Focusing on both individual and institutional levels of waste production and regulation, this study explores the role of food waste in the survival practices of the starving and traces the development of their individual resourcefulness and interconnectedness with wider social and natural environments. The article explores different types of food waste, including husks, leftover food, carrion and spoiled and rotten food and the spaces of its collection. By 'following' the traces of waste in urban and rural landscapes, including, among others, dumpsters, slaughterhouses, cattle cemeteries and railway stations, the article brings into focus the critical changes in human–food, human–waste and human–nature relationships in times of extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]