Explain the causes of the global food crisis. Which do you think is the most significant contributor? How would you address these issues? What role can domestic governments play? What role can international agencies play? Examine how realists, liberals, and constructivists would solve this problem

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are concerns that food insecurity is growing, and these fears are leading to
political unrest. Globally, increased food prices have created civil unrest and a wave
of humanitarian crises in the developing world. Between 2007 and the start of 2009,
nearly forty countries had food riots—such as the "tortilla riots" in Mexico and the
"pasta riots" in Italy. In 2011, world food prices again escalated, surpassing the
peak that they had reached three years prior and causing hardship for many already
impoverished people across the world. Rising food prices were a major factor that
fed the unrest and anti-government protests that swept through many Arab countries.
As fears of food scarcity spread, panic buying ensued and governments responded
by enacting export bans and emergency price controls. Such dilemmas, particularly
for the poor, have led one observer to warn that food riots are likely to become
commonplace. Furthermore, not only do persistently high and volatile food prices
influence conditions of hunger and undernutrition, they also contribute to health
problems.