ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book argues in effect that the significance of global political and economic structures, and recently of global cultural trends, insists upon a broad view of food systems. It book discusses malnutrition and famine. There are a number of theoretical contexts for this and people examine in particular Amartya Sens use of entitlements to food as an explanation of shortages. In the last 20 years social science has moved away from thinking in terms of natural disasters such as drought in the Sahel of Africa, towards the social and political background of hunger. It is now recognized that poverty and war are the two most important causes. The ironic and obscene counterpart of food shortage in the poor world is food surplus in the North. The book looks at interventions such as famine early warning systems and food aid.
